Utilities expenses for the staff member of Musicians without Borders, 1350 Euro 

Musicians without Borders was established during the Kosovo war when Dutch musicians, both professionals and amateurs, wanted to make a contribution to the reconstruction, reconciliation and healing after all the traumatic events in that area. Since then musicians, music organizations, peace groups, and human rights organizations have started up numerous musical projects for the furthering of a peaceful society. 

In the interim MwB has grown into a large network of musicians and musical organizations stemming from various countries (the Balkans, Cyprus, Israel-Palestine, England, Uganda, Ghana and the Netherlands).
The projects of Musicians without Borders (MwB) are still concentrated in the Balkans, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, and focus primarily on children and young people. Local musicians who make a contribution to reconciliation and healing efforts are also supported by means of training programmes and free musical instruments. In the Netherlands, MwB organizes projects which allow people from different cultures to meet one another through music.

All of the projects are initiated and directed from a small office in the town of Alkmaar in the Netherlands: support for the international network, fund-raising for projects, organization of benefit concerts, public relations material and other office responsibilities. All of this is done on limited funds and the enthusiasm of volunteers. A small professional team is essential however. MwB projects are supported by Cordaid, Novib and NCDO, but the financing of everyday costs is extremely difficult. Funds from private gifts, benefit concerts and the sale of CDs cover only a portion of this. 

MwB found Lauren someone who was willing to offer her services to the core team: Lauren Elby. She is a volunteer for the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) programme, in which young people work for a few years for idealistic organizations. Lauren speaks fluent English, German and French, has experience in fund raising and is well-versed in computers. Before this she worked for a year for a youth organization in Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina). And to top it all off, she is an amateur musician. 
Lauren's presence will also make it possible for MwB to continue development of a project in Kosovo, a pop music school for young people in the divided city of Mitrovica.

BVS covers all of Lauren's costs except for housing, and MwB has found free living quarters for her through its local network. What is still needed is a contribution towards her utility costs, gas, electricity, water, bus fares and the like for the last 9 months of her stay, which are estimated at Euro 150,- a month. Moments of Joy would like to cover these costs. 

Total: Euro 1350,- (9 months at Euro 150,-)

Total € 1350,-- 

adopted by the general fund of Moments of Joy

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