EDUCATIONAL MUSIC TOOLS TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

EDUCATIONAL MUSIC TOOLS TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE is an international project designed to enhance the quality of human rights education within the youth sector through non-formal education (NFE) methods. The project brings together five partner organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Italy, Portugal, and Germany, who have been collaborating successfully for over a decade in the fields of human rights and music education.

Project goals

Building on 10 years of collaboration through the Music for Human Rights youth exchange series, the project addresses a critical gap in human rights education across Europe. This gap limits young people’s ability to engage in meaningful political participation grounded in human rights values and principles, ultimately affecting their capacity to influence decision-making processes and contribute to community development.

The project aims to empower young people to explore and understand human rights through a powerful and universal medium: music. By integrating both sound and lyrics, music becomes a dynamic tool for reflection and learning. Lyrics provide concrete examples that youth can analyze and discuss with the guidance of youth workers, emphasizing the relevance of human rights in everyday life and their vital role in fostering social cohesion.

Partners

The partners in this project are:

• Roter Baum Berlin (Berlin, Germany), 
• Narandžasti (Pančevo, Serbia),
•  Farra Fanfarra (Sintra, Portugal), 
• Comala (Torino, Italy), 
• Zdravo da Ste (Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The key outcome of the Educational Music Tools to Promote Human Rights Among Young People project is the development of an innovative methodological toolkit designed to empower youth workers across Europe. This toolkit enhances the quality of human rights education, making it accessible and engaging for young people in both non-formal settings and educational environments like schools.

In essence, the project strengthens the capacity of youth workers to:

• Raise awareness of human rights among young people
• Instill fundamental values and principles
• Foster critical thinking and reflection
• Promote active citizenship and social participation
• Encourage creative forms of expression, with a special focus on music

Through this project, young people gain the opportunity to explore human rights using a powerful and inspiring medium: music. By integrating both sound and lyrics, we create meaningful learning experiences. The lyrics provide concrete examples that spark discussions with youth workers, highlighting the relevance of human rights in everyday life and their critical role in social coexistence. The songs address not only personal relationships but also broader social issues, crafted to resonate with the interests and tastes of young audiences.

Methodological Toolkit

We have developed a comprehensive methodological toolkit tailored for non-formal education with young people. This toolkit includes:

• Original Songs: We created two full albums, each containing ten songs. These songs are designed to complement non-formal education activities, addressing a wide range of human rights topics.
• Non-Formal Education Tools: Accompanying each album is a collection of educational tools and activities that help youth workers facilitate discussions and interactive sessions around human rights themes.

The materials are designed with two specific age groups in mind:

• Teenagers: One album and its corresponding toolkit focus on younger audiences, using age-appropriate themes, language, and methods to engage and inspire.
• Young Adults: The second album and toolkit target older youth, delving into more complex social issues with a mature, reflective approach.

This project aims not just to teach about human rights, but to inspire young people to understand their significance, reflect on their impact in society, and become active, engaged citizens.