HEALING IN HARMONY
ARTISTS, NOT PATIENTS. "We have witnessed transformative change in the lives of women, children, their families, and vulnerable community members we serve. As survivors and patients transcend their suffering by becoming artists, we hear their voices anew, and together we are delivered to hope..."
- Dr. Denis Mukwege, Founder of Panzi Hospital and Foundation, Nobel Laureate, Partner Photo by Platon for The People's Portfolio and Dr. Denis Mukwege

Creating

Working with a trained psychologist and music producer, participants write, record, and professionally produce songs about their emotions and experiences.

ADVOCATING

Artists become advocates, publicly disseminating their music through local radio broadcasts, social media, community concerts, and CD distribution, reducing stigma and raising awareness.

Healing

The process has a profound effect on psychological healing and the restoration of a supportive, blooming community.

THE MODEL

HOW IT WORKS.

  • The Healing in Harmony program provides music therapy for survivors of sexual violence and other traumas, as well as those who care for them.
  • Working in tandem with a trained therapist and music producer, participants begin the healing process by writing, recording and professionally producing songs about their emotions and experiences; simultaneously engaging in therapy and developing their own musical artistry.
  • The environment created is one of joy and healing, focusing on turning negative thinking patterns into positive and more adaptive ones.
  • Participants emerge as confident artists and advocates publicly disseminating their music through local radio and television broadcasts, social media, community concerts and CD distribution, reducing stigma about sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, poverty, mental illness, displacement/refugee status, and more.
THE BENEFITS

WHY IT WORKS.

Healing in Harmony helps to:

  • Give participants a new and more effective channel to express their feelings, experiences, and needs in order to cope with their trauma and hardships
  • Facilitate improved communication with caregivers allowing them to properly identify and address the needs of their patients/the participants
  • Strengthen the bond of solidarity among survivors and traumatized populations through their participation in music groups, forming peer-to-peer support mechanisms and promoting the emergence of group leaders
  • Encourage continued contact with local staff and programs for after-care monitoring, evaluation and follow-up
  • Open channels of communication with family members and traumatized/conflict-affected populations in reintegrating into their families and communities
  • Combat stigma and helps reduce feelings of isolation
  • Produce powerful messages for positive change to advocate across regions and cultures in the form of tangible and professionally-produced music that can also be a beacon for others in need of help
  • Provide support, encouragement and mentoring to partners through an innovative community of practice, including therapists, researchers, music producers and humanitarian professionals, who are all focused on improving the psychosocial well being of traumatized and vulnerable populations
WHERE WE WORK
OUR AFFILIATE PROGRAM

SPREADING THE WORD,

ONE VOICE AT A TIME.

Along with the Panzi Foundation DRC, Make Music Matter commits to working with established health centres, community organizations, institutions, and other holistic programs to help implement the Healing in Harmony model. Find out how our affiliate partnerships work.

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