What do you need to follow your dream?

Through exciting hands-on projects, an inspiring mentor and a unique leadership program, the D&F Academy aims to provide young people around the world from all backgrounds with the skills, experience, courage and mentorship they need to follow their dreams and become positive change-makers in the world

We offer two types of projects

DreamMaker Projects

These projects consist of a short Project Phase (8-10 weeks), during which our Fellows work with their Friend on a hands-on project, and a longer DreamMaker Phase (10 months), in which they implement their own dreams, assisted by peer and expert mentoring as well as other support from the Dekeyser&Friends Foundation. DreamMaker Projects will take place at the D&F Academy in Hamburg.  

Inspiration Projects

In the Inspiration Projects our Fellows spend a longer period of time with their Friend (3 months) on a hands-on project. After the project has ended, Fellows can apply to take part in a DreamMaker Phase. The Inspiration Projects take place at the location where the Friend or her/his work is based.

Our approach contains three important elements that are present in every project 

The Challenge

Under the guidance of the Friend, the Fellows, as a team, pursue a goal – this can be restoring a 17th century farmhouse, the beginning of a new village or dancing on stage. The Challenge is the platform and framework for the exchange between Fellows and Friend. What is important is not the goal itself but the road to it, and the positive experience that stems from it.

The DreamLab

The DreamLab is an interactive leadership program, consisting of workshops and seminars that accompany each D&F Academy project.

The DreamLab gives Fellows the opportunity to reflect upon eleven values, engages them in intercultural exchange, transfers capabilities and thus enables them to develop a concrete plan for their future – their DreamPlan. The program is also full of fun activities, exciting talks and adventurous excursions!

Media Skills

Making a change in today's world often requires being heard, thus learning essential media and communications skills is part of every project for the Fellows. As they experience the projects they share their impressions using text, photo and video in the D&F World, our channel on the Dekeyser&Friends website, thus sharing their inspiring experiences with the world. 

DreamMaker - Making dreams come true 

The DreamMaker Phase offers support to our Fellows who implement their DreamPlan after returning home from a D&F Academy project. During the DreamMaker Phase Dekeyser&Friends helps them take the step from dreamplanning to action by providing mentoring and other support. Participants of the DreamMaker Phase benefit from a number of services ranging from online knowledge and skill inputs to individual feedback on topics like fundraising, web development, marketing and others. During the first 10 months of implementation, our DreamMakers are thereby guided through the process of following their dreams to create positive change in the communities around them.