We strongly believe that collective singing can and should play a role in the integration process of children and young migrants. That is why Koor&Stem participates in the Sing Me In project.
Collective singing in the integration process of young migrants
Crossing lines, daring to try something new; this is an exciting challenge when it is only about music or work methods. And it’s easier if you can get a little help from your friends. But some people are forced by circumstances to cross more serious lines, to pass borders, leave their homeland and culture behind, in order to try to start a new life in a foreign country, in a new cultural environment, which includes different food, different music, and perhaps hardest of all, different social rules. They also certainly need a little help from friends.
Many young people in different European countries are confronted with these challenges. The Sing Me In project aims to provide children’s and youth choir conductors and music teachers with pedagogical approaches and tools that allow collective singing activities to play a positive role in young people’s integration process.
11 musical organisations
The project gathers 11 musical organisations involved in youth work in 10 countries including Turkey and Lebanon. Sing Me In is coordinated by the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat (DE) in partnership with: Estonian Choral Association (EE), Sulasol (FI), Ung i Kor (NO), ZIMIHC (NL), Koor&Stem (BE), A Coeur Joie (FR), Musica International (FR), Moviment Coral Català (ES), Koro Kulturu Dernegi (TR) and Fayha Choir (LB)
Practical handbooks
All partners use their extensive networks to collect good practices related to the use of collective singing in the process of inclusion of young migrants in their respective professional and geographical areas. The project will evaluate the existing experience to extract best practices, and use this basis to collectively develop innovative pedagogical contents. It will also gather examples of challenges encountered in projects aiming at the inclusion of young migrants, collecting “tips and tricks” and pitfalls to be avoided.
The main outputs of the project will thus be three practical handbooks targeting children and youth choir conductors and music teachers: working with young refugees in their environment (refugee camp or accommodation), including young people with migrant background in existing choirs and working in a school environment.
More info?
Learning a language should be fun. The theatre or music gets people motivated to learn. You learn to speak Dutch better if you’re learning it in an enjoyable environment. The bond between the person, the language, and the country grows stronger by allowing people to experience emotions through the new language.
[Peter Schoenaerts, second language education expert]
Sing Me In is an ERASMUS+ Strategic Partnership with the support of the European Commission. Coodinated by the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat in partnerschip with: Estonian Choral Association (EE), Sulasol (FI), Ung i Kor (NO), ZIMIHC (NL), Koor&Stem (BE), À Coeur Joie (FR), Musica International (FR), Moviment Coral Català (ES), Koro Kulturu Dernegi (TR) and Fayha Choir (LB). This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
