Songwriting for Peace – Giving Youth a Voice Through Music
Music can be a bridge – between cultures, generations, and lived realities. This is the central message of the recent TV feature by Baden TV Süd, which highlights the Mypeace Songwriting Workshop. Held on April 5, 2025, in Emmendingen, the workshop brought together young people aged 15 to 35 to engage creatively with the topic of peace through songwriting and collaboration.
In the interview, Krischan Lukanow, director of musiclab Emmendingen and one of the workshop facilitators, emphasizes:
“The Mypeace Songwriting Workshop is much more than a one-off project – we see it as a pilot, an example of how peace can be creatively and tangibly explored with young people.”
The MyPEACE Project
The workshop is part of the MyPEACE – Music for Youth initiative, co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme. Its goal is to promote peace education through music and creative expression by young people across Europe.
MyPEACE involves eight partner organizations from six countries.
In Germany, the project is coordinated by musiclab Emmendingen and Outside Media & Knowledge.
Why Music?
Music is a universal language. It transcends borders, cultures, and opinions.
For many young people, music provides a natural way to engage with complex topics like war, peace, identity, and hope.
In classrooms across the Freiburg region, students often speak many different mother tongues. This linguistic and cultural diversity can be challenging – but it is also a great strength. Music creates a shared space and fosters community, even when spoken language is not shared.
Why Peace Education?
Peace is a global issue – but we can shape peace education locally.
Peace is more than just the absence of war. It’s about:
These values were brought to life in the workshop – through collaborative writing, music-making, conversation, and mutual support. Music gave participants a safe space to reflect, express, and connect.
The Creative Outcome: A Collaborative Song
Led by facilitators Teddy Oculi and Krischan Lukanow of musiclab Emmendingen, the participants wrote and performed an original song exploring the theme of peace from personal and global perspectives.
The entire process was documented on film by Outside Media & Knowledge. The final performance will be released soon on the project website.
Voices from the Workshop
“We have a lot to say, but aren’t always heard.”
“Music gives me hope that today can be a good day – even when I don’t feel like going to school in the morning.”
🎥 Watch the TV segment on Baden TV Süd
👉 Watch here: Creating Peace Through Music
We thank all participants and partners for their creativity, openness, and contributions to a more peaceful future.
#MyPEACE #PeaceThroughMusic #YouthVoices #SongwritingForPeace #MusicUnites #ErasmusPlus