Musicians Without Borders.

Since June 2005, the international peacebuilding organisation Musicians Without Borders has been working in Bosnia Herzegovina to create conditions where music and culture play a significant role in the revitalisation of local communities, peaceful coexistence and protection of human rights. They believe that it is relatively easy for a community to rebuild its physical infrastructure after a devastating war, but peace is unlikely to be sustainable without cultural change; and so Musicians Without Borders encourages Children, youth and teachers to gather together for activities with a focus on the promotion of peace, tolerance, and combating discrimination through exposure to diverse musical and artistic styles. Through these projects children demonstrate increased confidence and more refined interpersonal skills in areas such as conflict resolution and problem solving, and mutual trust and respect through active participation in cultural activities.

The Music Bus

The Music Bus tours the villages, refugee settlements, and schools of eastern Bosnia, running music and dance activities for the children who live there. This provides an oasis of creativity and inclusive community building for a generation still feeling the effects of the war and deeply divided along ethnic and national lines.

The major aim of this initiative is to advance peace, equality and tolerance through the understanding of cultural diversities, similarities and complexities among Bosnia’s children and youth. If a sustainable peace is to be built it is essential to stimulate an attitude of active tolerance regarding both similarities and differences between them and other people. This project gathers children from several regions to come to one place where they can play interactively, share ideas, put on joint performances and make new friends.