Mohammad, a 70-year-old Syrian refugee, clearly remembers the moment when music became a central part of his life. At just nine years old, his older brother introduced him to the oud, a traditional Syrian instrument, sparking a love for music that would stay with him through the years. At school, he also learned to play the ney, another instrument common in the region, and together with his brother, they formed a music group. Music became a refuge for Mohammad, feeding his soul through good and difficult times.
When the war broke out in Syria, Mohammad’s life changed dramatically. In 2012, he was forced to flee his home, crossing the border into Türkiye with his wife and three children. They settled in the southeastern city of Siverek, arriving with nothing but a mattress in the dead of winter. Despite the challenges, the local community warmly welcomed them, offering support that helped Mohammad begin to rebuild his life.
For a while, Mohammad focused on finding work as a decorator to provide for his family. But as time passed, the daily grind left him feeling unfulfilled. “I struggled to find hobbies, anything interesting to do,” he recalls. His thoughts often drifted back to the music he loved, but he didn’t know how to reconnect with it.
One day, his son Shukri introduced him to a new opportunity. Shukri had been involved in a community-based psychosocial support program run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and had heard about an initiative called “Migrant Melodies.” The program was designed to help refugees and migrants use music as a tool for healing and connection. Mohammad was invited to join, and it reignited his passion for music.
The program brought together a small group of men to learn the bağlama, a traditional Turkish instrument. Over twelve sessions, they not only learned to play but also bonded over shared experiences. “Music brought us together and gave us a safe space to express ourselves,” Mohammad says. He quickly made new friends, and the group even started meeting outside of the scheduled sessions to continue playing and sharing their stories.
So, how does music help with mental health and healing? Music has a unique way of soothing the mind, fostering creativity, and building connections among people. For Mohammad, music became a way to relieve the stress and trauma he had experienced. He believes that music not only healed his emotional scars but also strengthened bonds within the refugee and local communities.
In fact, Mohammad’s story is just one of many showing the healing power of music for refugees. Through the Migrant Melodies program, participants rediscovered their love for music and saw how it helped them manage stress. One participant noted, “I wasn’t sure if music would help me, but now I am convinced that it makes a real difference.”
With the support of IOM’s psychosocial program, Mohammad has found a renewed sense of purpose. He has even taken on a more active role, helping to organize other activities and reaching out to community members who could benefit from support. His dedication was recognized when he received an award from IOM for his contributions to the program.
Today, Mohammad’s home is filled with music once again. His instruments are proudly displayed in his living room, a reminder of the healing and connection that music has brought into his life. “We’re all human, and we all want to live peacefully,” he says, as he strums a familiar tune, smiling at the future he never thought he’d have.