Today, I wanted to share an initiative that really reflects the spirit of the MY PEACE project: France’s Fête de la Musique.
Every year on June 21st, towns and cities across France are filled with music. Streets, courtyards, parks, and balconies become informal stages where musicians of all kinds perform. Created in 1982, the idea behind the event is simple: free music, open to everyone, in public spaces.
One of the most distinctive things about the Fête de la Musique is that most of the people playing aren’t professionals. They’re amateurs, people who play for fun, for curiosity, or just to share something with others. Teenagers with guitars, small bands from the neighborhood, DJ’s playing from their balcony… You never know what you’ll come across.
This really echoes what MY PEACE is about. The project uses music as a way to engage young people and support peacebuilding through creative expression. It’s about inclusion, dialogue, and giving space to young voices. And that’s what you can feel during the Fête de la Musique, music as a way to bring people together in a simple, informal way.
Over time, other European cities have taken inspiration from this model. Today, places like Berlin or Barcelona organise similar events, showing how this kind of initiative can travel and adapt to different contexts.
This year, walking through the city, what stood out to me again was the accessibility of it all. Anyone can take part. There’s no need for a big stage or professional setup. Just a willingness to share something and connect with others. In the context of MY PEACE, this reminds us that music doesn’t need to be polished or commercial to be meaningful. Sometimes, all it takes is a few notes and a bit of courage to create a moment of connection.