In July 2025, youth workers from across Europe gathered in Varna’s Golden Sands, Bulgaria, for the Erasmus+ training “Music for Human Rights and Inclusion.” This unique project explored how music can be used as a creative tool to promote equality, inclusion, and intercultural understanding. Hosted in a vibrant coastal environment, the training blended artistic practice with participatory methods, offering participants new ways to connect with young people—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—through meaningful dialogue and shared cultural experiences. For the team from Copernicus Berlin e.V., it was an inspiring opportunity to reimagine how the arts could be a bridge between communities and a platform for human rights advocacy.
In Germany, diversity is a defining strength, yet challenges in social cohesion remain. Many young people from immigrant backgrounds, as well as those living with disabilities or in low-income areas, face systemic barriers to full participation in society. Social inclusion policies exist, but their impact is not always felt in local communities. The gap between policy and lived experience often results in feelings of isolation and mistrust. Before this project, Copernicus Berlin e.V. had been working with cultural exchange programmes, but there was a growing awareness that the arts—particularly music—could become a more powerful instrument for fostering empathy, dialogue, and solidarity if combined with structured human rights education.
The training in Varna brought this vision into focus. Over the course of a week, participants were immersed in creative workshops that paired artistic expression with lessons on non-discrimination, equality, and diversity. Through songwriting, drumming circles, and collaborative jam sessions, the group explored how to communicate messages of unity and tolerance in ways that transcended language barriers. The energy in these sessions was tangible—participants from different cultures, some meeting for the first time, created music that reflected both their differences and their shared hopes for a fairer world.
What made the programme exceptional was its integration of human rights frameworks into artistic practice. In interactive discussions and role-plays, participants linked their creative work to international conventions on human rights, examining how art can both reflect and challenge societal norms. This approach deepened the understanding that music can be more than a form of entertainment—it can serve as a catalyst for social change, a tool for empowerment, and a voice for those who are often unheard.
A highlight of the experience was the public performance on the Golden Sands promenade. This open-air event gathered locals and visitors to witness a vibrant blend of songs, rhythms, and dances from different countries. The audience responded with applause, curiosity, and even spontaneous participation, proving that music could unite strangers in shared moments of joy and reflection. Following the performance, participants engaged in structured reflection, discussing not only artistic techniques but also the social impact such events could have in their home countries.
Returning to Germany, Copernicus Berlin e.V. launched a new programme titled “Sounds of Inclusion.” Inspired by the Varna training, it invited young people from different cultural and social backgrounds to co-create music while engaging in guided discussions about human rights and social justice. The project involved weekly workshops in community centres, where participants learned basic music skills, shared their cultural heritage through song, and developed original pieces that expressed their experiences and aspirations.
The programme culminated in community concerts, where the music created in the workshops was performed publicly. These events became more than just concerts—they were safe spaces for dialogue, where audiences could hear personal stories woven into melodies and lyrics. By pairing art with advocacy, “Sounds of Inclusion” encouraged listeners to see their neighbours not as strangers, but as fellow community members with unique voices and shared values.
The impact was profound. Young participants gained not only musical skills but also confidence in speaking out about issues that mattered to them. Some began taking leadership roles in the workshops, facilitating sessions for their peers and organising their own music-based initiatives. For the broader community, the concerts offered a chance to experience diversity not as an abstract concept but as a living, breathing reality that enriches society. Teachers, parents, and local leaders noted increased engagement among youth and a greater willingness to collaborate across cultural lines.
On a structural level, Copernicus Berlin e.V. strengthened its network of partners both locally and internationally. Connections made during the Varna training led to joint online workshops with youth groups from other countries, allowing for continued intercultural exchange. The organisation also began advocating for greater inclusion of arts-based methods in local youth work policies, presenting “Sounds of Inclusion” as a model for integrating creativity with civic engagement.
Looking to the future, Copernicus Berlin e.V. plans to expand the project to more districts in Berlin, incorporating other art forms like spoken word and visual arts, while keeping music at its core. The vision is to build a sustainable platform where young people can develop as artists, advocates, and leaders in their communities.
The experience in Varna reinforced a vital truth: music is a universal language that can cut through prejudice and misunderstanding. When it is paired with a clear commitment to human rights, it becomes a force that can shift perspectives, break down barriers, and inspire collective action. In Germany, “Sounds of Inclusion” is proving that when young people are given the tools to express themselves creatively and the knowledge to stand for justice, they can transform not only their own lives but the communities around them. And perhaps, in time, their harmonies of unity will echo far beyond national borders.