Bosnia and Herzegovina

In collaboration with War Childhood Museum and Superar BiH in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we bring creative workshops to refugee camps and centers. The project organizes inclusive group activities around music and arts for children, youth, and families.

One of the last countries in Eastern Europe to allow refugees to pass, Bosnia and Herzegovina shares a border with the EU (Croatia). The country has become the ‘last stop’ on the Balkan route for today’s refugees fleeing wars and other disasters in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Twenty years ago, our Music Bus program brought music to vulnerable Bosnian children in ethnically divided cities, villages, and refugee settlements. Building on networks and expertise from earlier projects, Welcome Notes Bosnia and Herzegovina brings back the mobile music teams for today’s refugees.

Musicians and facilitators lead music and art workshops for children in refugee camps. All three partner organizations have a different approach to working with children, leading to a wide range of activities. During the workshops, children have a chance to try out instruments, participate in drumming and percussion circles, experiment with singing and writing songs, and experiment in crafting with clay, cardboard, and paper. The sessions provide a safe space for creativity and self-expression, and improve communication and connection within the group, bringing important experiences of joy, relief, and connection for participating children and families.

Because many refugees are constantly on the move—whether by choice or government policy—the project has created a mobile team that can respond flexibly as needs and opportunities arise. They deliver workshops in the refugee camp Usivak near Sarajevo, refugee camp Borici in Bihac, and to Puz, a safe house in Tuzla.

The project is also offering training courses. One is specifically designed for Bosnian musicians, artists, and social workers, who (want to) work with children and youth in refugee settings. After completing the training, participants can join the pool of experts who make up the mobile Music Bus team. The second training course is aimed at Bosnian teachers who work with refugee or migrant children.

Music Bus NL

Music Bus NL brings music to children, youth, and families in emergency reception centers in the Netherlands. The Netherlands sees a growing number of people arriving in the country daily, fleeing war and persecution. The country’s policy of discouragement has resulted in inadequate provisions for people on the move, and so-called ‘emergency centers’ are now often the first stop for those seeking refuge. Musicians Without Borders’ trained music leaders provide experiences of joy, relief, and connection for participating children and families as they await their next move.

In 2023, this project is made possible thanks to the generous support from ELJA Foundation, Stichting van Well van der Snoek, Haëlla Stichting, and Iona Stichting.

Rap projects

In collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages in Italy and Greece, Musicians Without Borders rap trainers Manu van Kersbergen and Guus van der Steen worked with unaccompanied minors, co-creating rap songs with young people to express their hopes and dreams for the future.

Music leadership training

We train musicians in inclusive music leadership approaches especially suited to working with vulnerable (young) people experiencing displacement. In Italy, Greece, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this has focused on work in refugee centers.

In Germany, our training programs in collaboration with Landesmusikakademie North Rhine Westphalia strengthen this center’s structural programs with local and newcomer musicians in support of social inclusion in the region.