Musicians without Borders
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| Founded | 1999 |
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| Founder | Laura Hassler |
| Focus | conflict resolution, peacebuilding; social change |
| Location | |
Area served | Bosnia-Herzegovina; Palestine; Kosovo; Rwanda; Uganda; Northern Ireland |
| Website | Official website |
Musicians without Borders uses the power of music to bridge divides, connect communities, and heal the wounds of war.
Musicians without Borders’ long-term commitment allows our participants the time to develop skills and talents, process grief and loss, and build bridges of reconciliation in societies divided by recent or ongoing conflict. Our professional trainers are specialized in running community music projects with people dealing with trauma, fear and isolation as a result of war and conflict.
We work closely with local musicians and organizations to build sustainable projects in response to local needs. From successful projects we develop models, methodologies and trainings to adapt for other regions.
Where war has raged, people need everything to return to life: food, water, shelter, clothing, medicine. But more than anything, people need hope. To reconcile, people need empathy. To heal, people need connection and community.
- Music creates empathy, builds connection and gives hope.
- Music crosses ethnic divides and provides neutral space to meet through shared talents and passions.
- Community music-making is a direct and accessible tool for connecting people and engaging and mobilizing communities.
- From drum circles to choirs to rock bands, music can be practiced by any person at her/his own level regardless of musical skills, whether in small groups or in a setting of hundreds or even thousands of people.
Projects & Programs
Mitrovica Rock School – In post-war Kosovo, aspiring young rock stars meet across divides at the Mitrovica Rock School, where it’s all about the music.
Palestine Community Music – Training youth and young professionals to bring music to marginalized children in West Bank refugee camps, villages, schools, hospitals and orphanages.
Rwanda Youth Music – Introducing music therapy, training and community music activities to empower youth and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Music Bridge – Bridging divides in Northern Ireland with community music training and activities.
