Mitmachmusik Berlin - Project

In light of the current political climate in Germany, marked by increasing societal division, our work assumes a heightened significance. Following the success of Building Bridges in 2019, the influx of students to Berlin, especially from Ukraine since 2022, has further inspired and strengthened our conviction that we must continue our work. Through the social integration of these children, we are making a sustainable contribution to society – thanks to BBT.

Frank Uhe, Chair

MitMachMusik Berlin encourages social inclusion, creative collaboration and a sense of accomplishment for refugee children and German adolescents through regular music programmes at centres in Berlin. As well as suffering trauma as a result of conflict, deprivation and loss, refugee children arriving in a new country experience overwhelming feelings of alienation and isolation. Making music together engenders communication, friendship and sheer joyousness in a place of respite and shelter.

A 2025 BBT Community Grant of £45,000 over three years is supporting MitMachMusik Berlin’s delivery of Building Bridges 2.0: Around the World in Music, a programme of several large ensemble workshop days, vacation courses and special events. Taking inspiration from the music of different cultures across the world, these young people are able to unify and strengthen their musical skills, self-perception and social awareness – qualities that characterise genuine integration. As such, it is a significant development of the original Building Bridges four-day summer camp that was supported by a first BBT Community Grant in 2019.

We didn’t know we could concentrate so well for a whole day and have fun at the same time!

MitMachMusik Berlin participant

In just one weekend, I experienced so much, it felt like I’d been on a wonderful trip and I made new friends along the way. Simply by discovering new music together.

MitMachMusik Berlin participant

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Read a blog by Bridget Kinneary of MitMachMusik Berlin, Staying in Tune During Corona, here

Photographs by Djuneid Dulloo, Ilona Havrylash, Fabian Sommer and Peter C Theis