Research Report: Singing and Music-Making with Refugee Children and Unaccompanied Minors

‘Then The Dream Started to Be More’: Singing and Music-Making with Refugee Children and Unaccompanied Minors: Insights from Research and Practice is a research report is a literature review and collection of case studies commissioned by Sing Up Foundation from a team led by Dr Hala Jaber with Dr Fran Garry and Professor Helen Phelan from the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

As the report includes case studies, personal stories and quotes alongside the literature review, it creates a picture of the lives of these very vulnerable young people and the impact of singing and music-making on their lives. The report also highlights the challenges of this work, the need for facilitators to be well-trained and supported, the importance of carefully curated safe musical spaces and the great outcomes that this work can bring about.

In addition to the analysis of the learnings from the review, interviews and case studies, the report also highlights learnings and recommendations for developing work in this area and with this group. The Sing Up Foundation hopes that this resource can be a valuable tool for the sector.

The report is available to download for free from the Sing Up Foundation website.