Bosnia and Herzegovina

In collaboration with Caritas 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 BiH brings back the music teams for today’s refugees.

Musicians and facilitators lead music workshops for children, youth and adults in reception centers. During the workshops, participants have a chance to try out instruments, participate in drumming and percussion circles, experiment with singing, dancing and writing songs. 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, youth and adults.

Because many refugees are constantly on the move—whether by choice or government policy—the project has created three music teams that can respond flexibly as needs and opportunities arise, and cover different regions. The teams are active delivering workshops in the Temporary Reception Centers in Usivak and Blazuj and a Safe House in the Sarajevo Canton, in Temporary Reception Center Borici in Bihac, in the Una Sana Canton, and in the Safe House Puz, in the Tuzla Canton.

The project is also offering training courses, specifically designed for Bosnian musicians, artists, and social workers, who (want to) work with children and youth in refugee settings, and for Bosnian school teachers who work with refugee or migrant children. With these training we aim to strengthen capacities in the different professional sectors and for participants to join the pool of experts who make up the Music teams.

Welcome Notes NL

Welcome Notes 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, youth and families or other adults as they await their next move.

In 2024, this project is made possible thanks to the generous support from Haëlla Stichting, Iona Stichting, Janivo Stichting, and AMJV Fonds.

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.

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.