Musicians Without Borders - War Divides, Music Connects

WHAT'S YOUR SONG? (0:37)

Why Music?

‘You may be poor, you may only have a ramshackle house, you may have lost your job, but that song gives you hope.’

Nelson Mandela

We use music as a tool to build connections, foster empathy and shape communities. Studies have shown that music is a powerful tool that can influence behavior, shape culture and strengthen social bonds. We use music as a means to address the needs of societies divided and affected by conflict.

Who We Are

‘If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.’

Jimi Hendrix

Founded in 1999, Musicians Without Borders is a global network organization of musicians, individuals, partnering organizations and music advocates. We are dedicated to empowering musicians as social activists and young people as change makers.

ABOUT STAFF PARTNERS & DONORS CONTACT

WHAT WE DO

Our mission is to bridge divides, connect communities, and heal the wounds of war using the power of music.

PROGRAMS

TRAINING

ADVOCACY

Soy Música

Together with Salvadoran music teachers and community leaders, we share tools to give children at-risk feelings of safety, inclusion, creativity and joy.

El Salvador

Mitrovica Rock School & Music Connects

Music Connects brings together youth from ex-Yugoslavia's divided communities through a shared love of rock music.

Western Balkans

Music Bridge

Music Bridge is a multi-year collaborative project to create sustainable community music programs within Northern Ireland’s divided communities.

Northern Ireland

Palestine Community Music

We train young Palestinians to become music workshop leaders for children in camps and isolated villages in the West Bank.

Palestine

Rwanda Youth Music

Since 2010, we have worked with medical and community organizations to bring music to thousands of children in Rwanda.

Rwanda

Welcome Notes

Bringing comfort, solidarity and hope to war refugees through music.

Italy, Germany, The Netherlands

Community Music & Health

We're training youth leaders to use the power of music to address the effects of HIV in young people.

Uganda

Training Programs

Are you a musician? Train with us to develop skills in using music as a tool for peace-building and social change.

Tailored Training & Workshops

We offer tailored training courses and workshops in community music and nonviolence for musicians, arts and community organizations, businesses, conferences, and universities.

Testimonials

Read testimonials by participants of our past professional training courses.

Representation

We share our knowledge and expertise at conferences, seminars and expert meetings.

Expert Meetings

A series of expert meetings for musicians and organizations who use the arts in social inclusion processes in different European countries and contexts.

Written Work & Research

We publish papers and and collaborate with researchers to advocate the use of music for reconciliation, healing and social change.

NEWS & UPDATES

February 22, 2018 press release

Safeguarding

Safety is a guiding principle that steers our work with communities affected by war and armed conflict: to ensure a safe space for everyone who participates in our programs.
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October 8, 2018 program news

INTERVIEW: JOHAN DORRESTEIN

With only 10 days to go until the Cello Biennale Amsterdam, we talked to Johan Dorrestein, MD about organizing the world's largest cello festival and the 'power of music'.
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October 1, 2018 program news

Music & Resilience in Myanmar

Joanne Lauterjung, MWB ToT participant, consultant, trainer and strategist, guest posts and reflects on her work in Myanmar and using monitoring and evaluation to provide tools for more robust music-based programming.
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November 12, 2018 event

Expert Meeting on Arts & Social Inclusion

The third „Expert Meeting on Arts & Social Inclusion“ will take place at the Landesmusikakademie NRW on 12 and 13 November 2018.
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