EAMTS Projects in Bosnia y Herzegovina

Being aware of the needs of people in war-effected areas and the support music therapy can give them, we want to encourage students to contribute within the international humanitarian aid. To be able to work as professionals students need to gain knowledge and experience. At the moment there is hardly any possibility for students, who haven't finished their study or already have a couple of years of work-experience to do so. The projects we are developing will give the opportunity to gain this experience.

After successful projects in 2004, 2005 and last September 2006 we are going to organize another one next year. It will also take place in September again in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The institutions where we have been working the last three years will be happy to have again a new team of motivated students and young therapists. We are expanding the project to other regions and more possibilities are coming up to cooperate with students and therapists from Bosnia y Herzegovina. The emphasize will also shift from working directly with the children to more sustainable work with the staff of institutions itself.

General Information about the project

Location

the projects took place in Mostar, which is a town situated in the southern- east of Bosnia y Herzegovina. The town is still torn apart between ethnic lines. The war has done huge damages to the city and its inhabitants. In 2006 we expanded the project to a place nearby Sarajevo, working in additional institutions. For 2007 again new places asked for our participation.

Institutions

The EAMTS is cooperating with an orphanage, a centre for children with special needs, several kindergartens and an institution from Caritas for handicapped adults in Mostar. Other institutions are refugee camps and a special school in Sarajevo. The project team works with children aged 5-18 in groups arranged by age and interest and with the adult group. Next to the workshop with the children, there are seminaries being conducted with the staff of the institutions in order to exchange knowledge and to let music therapeutical activities be more sustainable.
Aims

The main aims are to create a playful atmosphere, where music and its inherent possibilities can be experienced in various ways. Social Interaction, expression and exploration of emotions and experiencing joy and a safe atmosphere are some general goals and aspects for the workshops. The goals for the informational seminaries with professionals from various institutions are to exchange experiences, enhance and spread knowledge on music therapy and musical activities.

Methods

The work is done in workshops and recreational gatherings. We act and intervene with methods based on therapeutic backgrounds. Due to the short amount of time and the different culture, where therapy is not a common phenomena we are not be working psycho-therapeutically, but psychosocial and recreational. One pair of two students has at least two groups during the three weeks. The idea is to have one "therapist" and one "co-therapist" in changing roles. We are following general goals- depending on the age and the problems of the groups- but each student can work from out his cultural and educational background, bearing in mind an overall attitude.

Who can participate?

Students, who completed the first two years of their study (one year for master students) and who have already 6 months of practical experience with music therapy can apply to participate in the project. Therapists who recently (within two years time) graduated are very welcome as well. There is no age limit for application. Participants should have fluent knowledge in English and need to be very flexible and open to a special challenging work situation.

Language

Most of the student-pairs are working non-verbally with only an essential knowledge of the local language. Using mime, body language and pictograms are the main ways of communication. Usually a few members of the team are fluent in the local language. The team is introduced to the children by the local staff.

Intervision

Due to the intense working atmosphere and unknown situation there is adequately time planned for hours of intervision, preparation and evaluation/feedback. We are cooperating with MUSERS a local music therapy organization, which will provide additional external supervision for the team. The student's pairs are working together for the entire period in order to create a strong cooperation.
In order of training and instruction there is a preparation time before the team leaves to Bosnia. Four to six weeks after their return the students will meet for a debriefing and evaluation weekend.

Sustainability/ Localization

As mentioned above it is an important aspect to make the project sustainable. By doing workshops to exchange experiences and knowledge with staff and by organising informative workshops for music students, teachers, speech therapists and psychologists we want to bring to fruition, that music will continuously be used in the institutions the way in fits into their culture. We hope that thereby the awareness for the possibilities to treat and prevent psycho-traumatic stress symptoms will increase.
Finances

The project management is eager to receive donations from charities and organisations. The participation fee for project participants is about 300 Euro.

Interested?

Are you interested in going to another country to contribute within the humanitarian, psychosocial aid and at the same time learn a lot for yourself? Do not hesitate to contact us for more information at projects@eamts.org.
You soon will find the application form to download here.