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Sounds of Change – helping children in refugee camps feel like children again through music

3 min read

Inspiring People
Sounds of Change – helping children in refugee camps feel like children again through music
Source: Soundsofchange.org

Dutch non-profit Sounds of Change foundation trains aid workers and teachers to integrate music as an empowering tool in their work with children in post-conflict areas, and provides a safe space where children can learn and freely express themselves.

Sounds of change uses the power of music to train strong community builders

Music changes the world because it changes people. This is the belief of Lucas Dols, founder of Netherlands-based non-profit Sounds of Change. The foundation reaches out to humans living in challenging circumstances. For these people, words often are not enough to express themselves. To deal with heavy emotions, and feel safe again, another approach is needed. Music bonds people and is a powerful tool to express yourself in a safe way.

Making music stimulates creativity and appeals to the imagination. Composing music leads to discovering other possibilities, and it strengthens coping mechanisms. Being creative also awakens the understanding that there are always opportunities to build a future. Even if you are living in the middle of war, a devastated city or in a refugee camp, as we see in the video below.

These processes appeal to the imagination of each individual and the group. The term ‘creative music process’ relates to the theory of creative collaborative music practices by Peter Renshaw (Renshaw, 2011, ‘Working Together’).
Sounds of Change aims to achieve their goals by using creative music processes. These processes appeal to the imagination of each individual and the group. The term ‘creative music process’ relates to the theory of creative collaborative music practices by Peter Renshaw (Renshaw, 2011, ‘Working Together’). Source: Facebook/SoundsofChange

Training Change-makers: the community leaders of tomorrow

Sounds of Change was founded in 2017, with the aim to find and train change-makers of the future – the new community leaders. The foundation uses music to train adults and youth of all ages from local partner organisations (schools, NGO’s, community centers) in areas of conflict, so they can strengthen their communities on the ground. It is people from the communities who are best equipped to do the work; they speak the language and know the culture; they are the role models for children and other youth.  Currently Sounds of Change works in refugee camps and marginalised communities in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine (Westbank) and the Netherlands.

The composed music reflects the people individually as well as the unity of the group. By using these processes, people encourage each other to collaborate, which creates a nest for creative and innovative ideas that can catalyse change. In doing so, you can explore who you are, who the ‘others’ are, and how you relate to the world around you.
Composing (new) music in a safe space, in which people can share their experiences, power and hope, brings a deeper layer to the musical result. The composed music reflects the people individually as well as the unity of the group. By using these processes, people encourage each other to collaborate, which creates a nest for creative and innovative ideas that can catalyse change. In doing so, you can explore who you are, who the ‘others’ are, and how you relate to the world around you. Source: Facebook/SoundsofChange
Even if you live in a refugee camp or a devastated town. In addition, making music is an important emotional escape valve. When you live in difficult circumstances and when you have experienced traumatic events, words are often not enough to express yourself.
Creative music processes also support the understanding that there are always opportunities to create something, to build a future. Even if you live in a refugee camp or a devastated town. In addition, making music is an important emotional escape valve. When you live in difficult circumstances and when you have experienced traumatic events, words are often not enough to express yourself. Source: Facebook/SoundsofChange
— Lucas Dols (pictured with Maite van der Marel)
“ It is so important for children that grow up in a refugee camp, or in a conflicted area, to have fun and to feel like a child again.” — Lucas Dols (pictured with Maite van der Marel) Source: Facebook/SoundsofChange
Developing emotional awareness of oneself and others. Creating a fun space to facilitate improvisation and group composition. Delaying judgement. Active listening and expression. Working together via non-verbal and non-violent communication.
The techniques used by Sound of Change include: Developing emotional awareness of oneself and others. Creating a fun space to facilitate improvisation and group composition. Delaying judgement. Active listening and expression. Working together via non-verbal and non-violent communication. Source: Soundsofchange.org
Making children in refugee camps feel like children again. When everything has been said
or if nothing can be said
because it’s too difficult to speak,
then there is still always music.
Music is the freedom to express yourself.
Music is the freedom to be who you are.
Everyone has that right,
but not everyone has access to it.
That has to change. Today. LET’S MAKE THE SOUNDS OF CHANGE Source: Facebook/BrightVibes
Make an Impact

LET’S MAKE THE SOUNDS OF CHANGE: DONATE

When everything has been said
or if nothing can be said
because it’s too difficult to speak,
then there is still always music.<br /> Music is the freedom to express yourself.
Music is the freedom to be who you are.
Everyone has that right,
but not everyone has access to it.
That has to change. Today. Donate to this fantastic foundation and really make a difference.