In episode 06 of Change The Record, we speak with Nicky Böhm, Refuge Worldwide‘s community development manager. Refuge began as a fundraising platform, working alongside grassroots and non-profit organisations. In January 2021, they launched the weekly radio station Refuge Worldwide to share and discuss music and important issues.
Refuge Worldwide is an independent, Berlin-based community radio station that was created to amplify broad ranges of music in combination with social justice issues. They are committed to representing minorities, building, and promoting unity in communities and creating visibility for underrepresented artists, as well as helping grassroots and marginalised groups.
CHANGE THE RECORD PODCAST EPISODE 6
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Refuge, before launching Refuge Worldwide, has collaborated with a variety of organisations that are in solidarity with their aims. These include centres for young women, music schools for marginalised people, homelessness agencies, refugee housing support associations, social equity groups, domestic violence prevention services, amongst many others.
Refuge Worldwide, from their base in Berlin Neukölln, currently host media classes, training programmes, weekly workshops that are all free to attend as part of their community-building strategy and outreach. They are also involved in various collaborative projects globally and have been supported by brands such as PioneerDJ, AIAIAI, Resident Advisor, GALA Festival, Music Lab and many more. One of their most recent partnerships is with Berlin-based non-profit organisation Lilipad, who promote the love and value of learning and reading to improve children’s lives.
The station provides a diverse range of shows covering almost every music genre from house, IDM, new wave to reggae and northern soul. All hosts on the show have complete freedom to structure their programme as they see fit while incorporating interviews and discussions to further advance their aims.
The music industry is notoriously hard to get into and there are so many gatekeepers. Refuge worldwide would like to democratise and demistify a lot of the processes involved in getting into this industry.
Nicky Böhm
Refuge Worldwide are able to grow their community and up-keep the costs of their radio station through the subscription service Patreon. All funds generated from their Patreon page is split 50/50 between their station, community projects contributions and donations to like-minded non-profit organisations.
Learn more on Refuge Worldwide.
Support Refuge Worldwide through their Patreon.