Our Team
Mohammad Abou Chair
is Palestinian/Dutch, a graphic designer and filmmaker, born in 1994 in Syria to a Lebanese mother and a Palestinian father, yet he was a refugee and stateless for 28 years. The artist is currently based in the Netherlands and graduated with a master's degree in fine arts and design in 2022 from the Master Institute of Visual Cultures AKV| St. Joost, where he initiated the start of his own film and artistic career. In 2015, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in graphic design and visual communication from the American University of Culture & Education, during his life period in Beirut, Lebanon.
During the Abou Chair’s life as a stateless, he was lost between identities, and how his surroundings perceived him and his work. He was not surprised that his existential crisis ignited an identity-led practice. Within time, he managed to look from a peephole of life, to find the beauty in pain. His curiosity motivated him to represent different visual narratives and perspectives, not only to create empathy, but as a way of empowering marginalized identities, people, and overlooked social issues.
Awards and nominations:
Prize: International World Film Awards 2023 Best European Film (Short/Feature)
Nomination: Montreal Independent Film Festival 2023
Best Feature Documentary
Nomination: Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival 2023
Best Documentary
Rasheed azzam
Shadi ALHAKIMI
SHADI ALHAIMI IS YEMENI/DUTCH an accomplished innovator and social entrepreneur with a rich background in computer science and finance. Born and raised in Sanaa, the capital city of Yemen, Shadi's journey has been marked by resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
In Yemen, Shadi's passion for technology led him to invent a self-learning algorithm capable of searching video files, a groundbreaking achievement that earned him the national innovation prize. His dedication to advancing technology and improving lives is further evidenced by his successful publishing an academic paper for his innovative work in the United States.
Shadi's entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly when he founded a company providing computer security services, which grew to employ 15 people. However, the outbreak of war in Yemen in 2014 disrupted his life and work, forcing him to flee his homeland. After a perilous journey across the desert to Saudi Arabia, Shadi eventually found refuge in the Netherlands in 2015.
In the Netherlands, Shadi channeled his experiences and expertise into founding Taaly, a language app designed to help refugees, displaced people, and migrants integrate into society. Taaly enables users to practice the Dutch language through video chats with native speakers, fostering communication and community integration.
Rasheed Azzam is a Palestinian architect based in the Netherlands, with extensive experience in design and construction. He earned his master's degree in architecture and environment in 2015, and since then, he has worked in his field across several countries.
In addition to his professional work, Rasheed is known for his social activism, helping newcomers integrate into Dutch society. He co-founded Nebulaland Stichting with a group of volunteers, which aims to support minorities in the Netherlands and build a cultural bridge between newcomers and the local population.
Rasheed is passionate about culture and literature, and he has experience in writing. He also possesses advanced skills in photography and design programs, as well as significant expertise in information technology and web design.
As part of his hobbies, Rasheed finds joy in photography and filmmaking. He has contributed to the production of a series of films with humanitarian goals.