“Make Music. Not War.” began in 2015 as a simple yet powerful idea: using music to unite people divided by conflict.
It emerged during a project in Germany that brought together over 30 participants from 15 conflict-affected countries, including Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, and others.
The goal was to learn how to create inclusive initiatives in conflict and post-conflict societies.
From this, the “Make Music. Not War.” project was born, with its first edition taking place in 2017 in Bremen, Germany, focusing on peace and reconciliation through music.
In 2017, the first youth exchange in Bremen brought together participants from conflict-affected regions in Europe and the Middle East. Instead of focusing on divisions, they united to create songs of peace, unity, and reconciliation. What began as one gathering has grown into multiple editions in 2023, 2024, and soon, 2025. Each event brings young artists, musicians, and filmmakers together to use music as a tool for peace-building.
Mornings are filled with deep discussions about culture and conflicts, while evenings come alive with jam sessions and heartfelt lyrics. Over the years, we’ve created 9 original songs for a peace album, 3 cover songs, 5 music videos, and countless live performances and peace concerts.
When young people join forces, magic happens—tensions fade, understanding grows, and music bridges divides. Join us in creating a harmonious future, where every note and chord carries a message of unity, hope, and peace.
This project is a youth exchange as part of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.
The project is cofinanced over the KJP program of the German government.
Bremen is the city of the Bremen Street Musicians – the famous children story from
the Brothers Grim. Having the culture and tradition of support of street music, our
musicians have performances of playing peace music on the streets of Bremen,
while they interact with the locals, talk about our project and the need for peace all
over the world.
"Make Music Not War 3" was my first Erasmus+ experience, and this journey has ecome an important part of my life. By participating in this project, I had the opportunity to meet new people and explore different cultures more closely.
We shared various perspectives with each participant and inspired one another. Music became not only a means of expression but also a powerful bond that brought people together. The workshops I attended helped me deepen my knowledge of music and provided me with the opportunity to develop my skills. Through this experience, I rediscovered the unifying power of music, and I am very grateful for the memories and experiences I gained from this project.
Make Music Not War was an incredibly enriching experience for me in every sense of the word. I can honestly say I’ve grown a lot as a person and broadened my horizons. It wasn’t just about musical education, I also met so many people from different countries around the world that I would have a hard time meeting otherwise. Each night was introduced to different cultures and traditions. Nights to remember!
Spending a short time in such a beautiful environment, surrounded by nature, creative and enthusiastic people, was a truly magical experience for me.
The roles of photographer, scenographer, and costume designer provided me with such a beautiful experience for which I am immensely grateful.
An experience that marks a person and ignites a fire within them that couldn't wait to shine.
For me, MMNW was initially just another opportunity to expand my experience in non-formal education as part of my work responsibilities.
However, I clearly underestimated the impact the project would have on me.
Being exposed to such a wave of talent, passion, and dedication to a cause—both from the amazing participants I met at Kulturhouse and the organizing team of NaturKultur—deeply moved me.
Thanks to these elements, I was not only able to reignite my long-forgotten passion for music, but I also realized how powerful of a tool it can be for finding a common language to open up feelings and emotions, to reach out, and to fight for a cause.
I cannot recall a specific moment of enlightenment during the project because, to me, every moment—whether sharing an amazing meal cooked by Juraj, participating in activities designed to offer expression to those who needed it, or even engaging in silly or deep conversations during free time and evenings—was part of a process that helped me grow as a person, a youth worker, and a musician. It all brought me home with renewed drive and a thirst for more.
Soon after the 2024 edition of MMNW, I had the opportunity to facilitate my own youth exchange about music in Poland, called "Music for Democracy," to spread the amazing message of hope I was fortunate enough to be part of in Bremen to my own community and to even more young people from all over Europe.
I can now see how that same inspiration is being pursued by many other friends I met during my time in Germany.
In a historical period scarred by wars and suffering, it gives me hope for a future in which ""Make Music Not War"" will not only be the name of a mobility project, but a reality—an opportunity for people to live together in peace.
This project was very special, all the moments I shared with people there, made me realize how important music is to me. I was amazed not only with talent, but also the passion coming from their hearts. Everytime the music was in the air, magic appeared. No words can describe this feeling. We connected on a deeper level, leaving the conflicts of our countries behind, creating a safe space for all of us.
Despite of the short amount of time there, I have learnt a lot as a person, and as a musician. I made some friendships that became a part of my life, which I am greateful for. All of this has inspired me to continue my music journey and speak from my heart. And I feel proud seeing others growing in the music world too.
In a world often divided by conflict and misunderstanding, the Erasmus+ project “Make Music Not War” is a project that gives hope, unity, and an opportunity to unleash your creativity. My experience on this project was astonishing, seeing people putting their country’s conflicts aside and making music, or should I say making magic happen, really opened my eyes to see how easy it may be for us to fix these problems, but we just can’t seem to listen.
Make music, not war, a message that was truly felt and done on this project. The whole thing felt like an inner puzzle of getting to know yourself, on how you and others work and think under certain circumstances. From meeting people with different backgrounds and cultures to working and collaborating together on the project.
The atmosphere was very friendly walking around the house, there was always something to do, as in being extra help in the kitchen or checking on others on what they are doing. Overall, I had plenty of fun in this project, and plus I was proclaimed the king of foosball so there’s that.
The final days where we had to say goodbye to each other gave us a reality check on the regular days that are upon us. Even though the project was to make music not war, I believe that we made much more than that. The friendships, experiences and memories that we made along the way, all sum up to an involvement that I would highly recommend to others.
My time at the “Make Music Not War” project was nothing short of transformative. From the very first session, I was struck by the unique blend of fun and purpose that defined our activities. It wasn’t just about honing our musical skills, although that was certainly a big part of it, it was about coming together with a diverse group of individuals, many of whom I now consider very special. This project taught me so much about the power of music as a universal language and reinforced the idea that when we come together, we can overcome any barrier. It was an experience that I will carry with me always.
And it’s the truth, it’s an experience we’ll all carry with us, always. Despite our differences in culture, in language, in customs, we managed to unite with the help of a language which we all knew well – the language of music.
“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s ston
Cannot argue with that, Rowling, the most powerful magic indeed. And I really hope that this is not the end of it. I hope that our musical journey doesn’t stop here, but rather begins. Wherever it takes us next, regardless of time or place, I am certain that we’ll once again have the most unforgettable experience!
”Make Music Not War” was a lifetime experience. Something that every musician should experience at least once. The hanging out with people from 10 different countries and jamming together is a step closer to uniting the world. When you think of music you don’t have time to think about the problems.
Being a part of Make Music. Not War. was an unforgettable experience that truly changed my life. I came to the project with my friend Hrco, who was also a participant, and together we found ourselves surrounded by an incredible community of young, ambitious people. It was amazing to meet so many wonderful friends who shared the same passion for music and connection.
The process of creating music with others, each bringing their unique style and energy, taught me so much—not just about music, but about myself. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me develop my social skills, and gave me the confidence to collaborate and communicate better. I genuinely feel like I’ve become a better person because of it.
The experience inspired me to take the next step in my musical journey. Right after the project, I applied to join two bands, something I might never have done without the encouragement and inspiration from MMNW.
I’m so grateful for this opportunity and everything it brought into my life—new friendships, personal growth, and a renewed drive to follow my dreams. MMNW showed me the power of music to bring people together, and it’s something I’ll carry with me forever.
