Learning Materials

This icebreaker is designed to build connection quickly in an international group by using music and imagination as a shared language. Participants respond to playful “If I were…” prompts (instrument, rhythm, colour, song, city) and share their choices in pairs or trios before creating a collective “World Orchestra of Peace” display. It sets an inclusive tone, celebrates cultural diversity, and helps participants meet each other beyond labels or nationalities.

This document presents the overall methodology of the MY PEACE YOUTH training week hosted at Le Rocher de Palmer. It outlines how the programme combined participatory workshops, reflection spaces, meetings with local organisations, cultural visits, and collective music creation to explore peace through artistic practice. It also highlights key pedagogical choices, like group-building, local anchoring, and intercultural collaboration, that supported learning and meaningful youth participation.

Drawing on the work of organisations such as Peace Through Music International — which has reached over 20,000 children across conflict zones since 1999 — and the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, this material demonstrates how creative arts education can help young people, particularly those affected by conflict and displacement, to heal, connect, and develop vital social skills.

Whether through singing, instrument learning, storytelling, or structured dialogue, the approaches gathered here share a common belief: that music and creative expression have the capacity to bridge divides, build empathy, and foster lasting peace within communities. This collection of learning materials is intended for educators, youth workers, and community organisations looking to bring these principles into their own practice.

This resource list introduces external organisations and educational materials that can support peace education and “music for social change” approaches. It briefly explains why each resource is useful, offering examples ranging from inclusive music programmes (like Musaik) to peace education centres and ready-to-use teaching materials linking music and peacebuilding. It is designed as a practical starting point for facilitators looking for inspiration, partnerships, or structured tools.

This session invites participants to explore peacebuilding through an experiential outdoor (or moving) format built around listening, reflection, and dialogue. Through a collective sound energiser and rotating “walk and talk” conversations, participants connect personal experiences of music with broader themes like empathy, conflict, healing, and social responsibility. It closes with a simple creative reflection that turns insights into shared peace messages.

This session uses a World Café method to explore how different actors can contribute to peacebuilding through music. Participants rotate between themed tables (young people, musicians, educators, and peacebuilding stakeholders) to map strengths, needs, and opportunities for cooperation. By the end, the group produces a shared overview of roles and partnerships, encouraging collective ownership and practical next steps.

This session introduces peacebuilding concepts through a simple, visual metaphor: a balloon that can rise, or be held down by “weights.” Participants identify what peacebuilding means, who should be involved, how young people can participate, and what barriers prevent progress. The activity supports critical thinking and ends by turning obstacles into realistic actions, including discussion of how music can help “lift” the process.

This session creates a safe and dynamic space for exploring different viewpoints on peacebuilding through music. Using a physical “agree–disagree” line, participants respond to provocative statements about neutrality, activism, impact, and youth voice. The format strengthens listening and respectful disagreement, helping the group reflect on how music shapes social debate and how peacebuilding often requires navigating complexity rather than seeking one “right” answer.

This session focuses on creative, non-verbal expression by using sound and music as a storytelling tool. Participants work in small groups to create short “sound stories” that move from conflict to dialogue to transformation, using voice, rhythm, objects, and optional lyrics. The session builds empathy and collaboration, while showing how music can communicate peace messages beyond language barriers.