Music Therapy
At the beginning of this year, we started a co-operation with the ArtEZ conservatory in Enschede. 
ArtEZ offers a Bachelor and a Masters in Music Therapy. Connect by Music is continuously evaluating and improving the offered music program. The addition of music therapists creates the possibility to offer even more customized support to our students.
We would also like to inform you about one of our Music Therapists Lore Smits. She has committed herself for 5 months to Connect by Music. She has decided to return to Lesvos in September for another six months. Read her story here.
Co-operation ArtEZ – CBM
Connect by Music is continuously evaluating and improving its music program for the children and young adults in the refugee camps on Lesvos. Since the start of this year we started a co-operation with the conservatory ArtEZ in Enschede (The Netherlands). ArtEZ offers a Bachelor and a Masters in Music Therapy. The addition of music therapists to the existing permanent staff of Greek professional music teachers, creates the possibility to offer even more tailored support to our students.
Connect by Music works with a diversity of groups, whereby we look at the specific needs of each different group. On some of the locations, we only work with music therapists. The results after several sessions are really remarkable. Students are able to open themselves up again and connect with each other. By now we have music therapist from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, who have joined the Connect by Music team on temporarily basis.
In February, music therapist Lore Smits joined the Connect by Music team for a periods of 5 months. Before she joined, we asked her to tell something about herself and what her expectations were for her period with Connect by Music.
Music Therapist Lore Smits
Since 3 months Lore Smits is working as a music therapist for Connect by Music. 
Lore has a big hart. Excited, empathic, a sense of humor, a professional in her work, patience and always sweet. Lore values the persons she is working for. The unaccompanied children from Moria, the single mothers, each time she takes their situation into consideration, adjusting without losing her professionalism. She takes each, often horrible individual experiences into consideration. She pays attention to all, and really cares for them. And all these people, that she provides humanitarian aid to, all these children and adults, adore her. We are obviously very excited and grateful that Lore has decided to stay with us. After a first period of 5 months, she will return in September for another 6 months to the children and the adults, for whom she has become so important.
Before she joined, we asked her to tell something about herself and what her expectations were for her period with Connect by Music.
Last year, in 2017, I graduated as Music Therapist. What to do now? Graduated, but not really ready yet to commit to a permanent job, but still wanting to do something useful, but what and how? Eventually the end of the summer came (August 2017) and unexpectedly something challenging and rewarding crossed my path. The post graduate Sustainable Development. I read the site and thought; ”This is my new challenge”. The expectation to develop myself further on sustainable development targets (people, prosperity, peace, planet and partnership), combined with an internship abroad as music therapist, gave me the immediate feeling of energy.
Since I graduated I have spent a lot of time on my education. I still like to make music myself, like to sit behind the piano or take my guitar and play a bit. Now and then I am involved in a project, as recently where I prepared the pre-program for children for a festival. Last year I was part of a group of 4 girls that organized a music evening with and for refugees. So music wise, I have not taken a break.
Around last year November, I was looking for an internship as music therapist, and everything fell into its place. Zainab brought me in connection with Connect by Music, and my internship was there! How can we use music as therapeutic instrument for children in refugee camps?
My expectations around Lesvos and the upcoming internship are mixed. On one hand, I am curious, interested, challenged, but on the other hand a bit tensed and somewhat stressed. It will be a remarkable time, challenging and emotional. If I read about the places where people are stuck and when talking to other experienced volunteers that have been on site, it still is difficult to paint the picture. I will devote myself to this adventure; arrive, experience and just let it happen. I actually like it to start this journey like this. I also look forward to work together with the music teachers at the site and look forward to all the fascinating experiences. Already feel grateful for this experience and hope to be of added value to the people for and with whom I will be working.
