MUSIC CHANGES LIVES
“Music can change the world.”
- L. v. Beethoven
There is great power in music - and in music making! Power in listening to one another, power in sharing emotions and building real connections between people. We strongly believe that everyone should have access to music and musical training.
MUSIC
GIVES HOPE
MUSIC CONNECTS brings music and arts education to refugees and their hosts around the world. Traditions and cultures are severely endangered when people are forced to escape their homelands. Refugees, especially kids, suffer severe trauma during and after their displacement.
Getting to know each other, as a first step, through concerts and joint music-making on site, is a strong sign of solidarity and allows us to truly understand the local needs. Thereafter, MUSIC CONNECTS provides musical training for youths and promotes cultural development. It provides skills to help escape the dire circumstances in which they find themselves. Music is a way in which they are able to rekindle hope, and look ahead toward a better future.
WHY
MUSIC?
We believe everyone has a fundamental right to practise their own culture, as well as the right to further develop their own culture.
At least 110 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and persecution (source: UNHCR). According to UNHCR the number of refugees doubled since 2010. The displaced often end up far from their home countries. During and after their displacement many don´t get the chance to share their customs and culture. But it is these - culture and musical traditions - that can provide a sense of belonging. MUSIC CONNECTS supports traditions and artistic education.
OUR PROJECTS
It is important to us that we don’t impose our own views and ideas on displaced individuals. Our first step is to show genuine interest through our visits and concerts on site. According to the circumstances we come upon and the needs expressed by our audience, we thereafter develop appropriate projects. Based on this existing connection we create room for sustainable cultural development of children and young adults.
Jordan
ongoing project since 2019 – music lessons for children in the host community Mafraq
Summer 2018 – concerts in refugee settlements and host communities
Uganda
ongoing project since 2020 – mobile multimedia music laboratory LAB UGANDA
Autumn 2019 – concerts at three refugee settlements
MUSIC BUILDS BRIDGES
We see ourselves as partners to these kids, adolescents and adults, providing them with means to continue to develop their own cultures. We aim to support the most marginalised - the displaced - who don´t have access to musical education like people in other regions of the world.
MUSIC CONNECTS is financed exclusively through donations and public funding. All five members work voluntarily.
CONTACT US
Together we can achieve more – we look forward to hearing from you!