GPBF Announces New Grantee:

Musicians without Borders

With much excitement, the Global Peacebuilding Foundation (GPBF) announces its newest grantee: Musicians without Borders (MwB). MwB will receive a $500 Precision Micro Grant℠ joining Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh, PeacePlayers International, and Seeds of Peace in GPBF’s roster of grantees. Like the other grantees, MwB facilitates relationships across difference, helping young people overcome prejudice, stereotyping, hatred and fear.

Founded in 1999, MwB focuses on the power of music to build peace, connect people, empower musicians as social activists, and train local youth as changemakers. This particular grant will support inter-ethnic workshops in the Mitrovica Rock School (Mitrovica, Kosovo). Mitrovica is Europe's most divided city, with Serbs and Albanians living on different sides of the River Ibar ever since the end of the war in 1999. An entire post-war generation has grown up isolated and divided from ‘the other’.

Before the war, Mitrovica was a rock music city, a tradition of which both sides are still proud. The Mitrovica Rock School restores this rock music culture by providing a neutral platform for youth from both sides to meet as young musicians and aspiring rock stars. They provide daily lessons and band coaching sessions, all of which connect youth through weekly inter-ethnic workshops and its program for ethnically mixed bands. Over 900 youth have attended the Mitrovica Rock School since its launch in 2008.

Working in communities over the long-term, MwB has observed that participants in their programs experience less fear of the other, increased willingness to engage across difference, an increase in freedom of movement, and increased empathy. 

MwB believes that “War divides. Music connects.” GPBF is proud to support MwB as they engage with the young people of Mitrovica to build peace and understanding.