Musicianswithoutborders/CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
Musicians without Borders (MwB) was established in 1999 as a global network organization to use “the power of music for healing and reconciliation in areas torn by war and conflict.” The work with local musicians and nongovernmental organizations to develop programs to meet the needs they identify. They have held conferences and music festivals, published music, and built networks of musicians. They seek to unleash “the untapped power of music for healing, reconciliation and building tolerance where war and conflict have left people isolated, divided and in despair.”
MwB’s initial projects were in the Western Balkans. Their “Music Bus Sbrenica” was an inter-ethnic music training and workshop program for children and youth. In Kosovo the developed the Mitrovica Rock School to bring together young rock musicians in the deeply divided city, a project that was so successful it was replicated in Mostar, Bosnia.
In 2008 the “Music Bus” went to the Middle East, working especially with youth in the West Bank. The developed music training, rap songwriting and recording, and samba drumming programs.
New projects are developing in Rwanda especially with children in poverty or AIDS orphans.
Their slogan is “War Divides—Music Connects.”
Check them out: