Music Moves is a volunteer project in which we organised a silent disco for students of Curio ISK in Breda, a school for unaccompanied minor refugees between the ages of 15 and 18. Many of these young people speak little to no Dutch yet, which makes connecting with others difficult. By using music as a common language, we created a space where that no longer mattered.

As project manager I kept oversight of the entire project, but in practice we tackled everything as a team. From applying for funding through Ik Ben Geweldig to arranging equipment, making posters and coordinating with the school. The silent disco took place in the school’s main hall, with rented headphones, blacklights and face paint so that students could let loose without language being a barrier.

This project taught me how to organise an event with and for a vulnerable target group. It required listening carefully, staying flexible and accounting for things you can’t always anticipate in advance, such as which symbols or sounds might be sensitive for certain students.