World Without Borders

Have you noticed our url doesn’t have a “s” after “border”?

That’s because “Music Without Borders” is already taken.

We may be special and have potential

But our name is not that special. 

Already, there are:

Music Without Borders,

Musicians Without Borders,

and Artists Without Borders.

Try googling “no borders”

more than a million hits will come up in the counter.

Here is a short list in no particular order:

Doctors Without Borders,

Reporters without borders,

Engineers Without Borders,

Also there are:

Water Without Borders,

Rivers Without Borders,

Love Without Borders, and

Kangaroos Without Borders.

These ones are quite obvious.

There are even:

Plumbers Without Borders,

Pirates Without Borders,

and Geeks Without Borders!

If you live in a world that has lots of borders,

it’s like being trapped in a box.

And like a little pet,

you must follow all orders!

Before Google,

we knew little of what's beyond our borders.

Now that we know,

we should come out of our small little corners.

Let's come together and be in one world,

with no bad orders,

and NO BORDERS!

— By J.M.

Check out our Arcade!

Video games are a big part of our culture. Like anything, video games can be a source of good or bad, depending on our choices. So we created an Arcade as a platform for youth to create and play video games that are socially conscientious. Since the current Ebola crisis is our focus right now, we have created games around the theme of Ebola fighting.  We invite you to share with us any games you made that are fun and for a good cause!

MWB 2016 Update: The arcade also features a Minecraft Let's Play video!

Check out the arcade here: blog.musicwithoutborder.com/arcade

Our Finale: We Are the World

In the next two weeks, we will be featuring some of the music that will be played at the Music Without Borders Concert. Our very last song will be "We are the World" given its historical significance of people coming together and helping the world. Here are the lyrics:

We are the World Lyrics

There comes a time when we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day

That someone, somehow will soon make a change

We're all a part of God's great big family

And the truth 

You know love is all we need

(CHORUS)

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day just you and me

Well, send'em your heart so they know that someone cares

And their lives will be stronger and free

As God has shown us by turning stone to bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand

(REPEAT CHORUS)

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day just you and me

When you're down and out there seems no hope at all

But if you just believe there's no way we can fall

Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come

When we stand together as one

(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE)

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day just you and me

Music in the Metro

Are we naturally attracted to beautiful music? Can we recognize its beauty even when it is least expected or seems ordinary? 

Check out the social experiment documented by The Washington Post's article on Joshua Bell playing in the Metro to "thunderous silence" and indifference in 2007. Interestingly, the Washington Post noted that in that experiment, children were the only group that always wanted to stop and watch Bell played, while others just ignored him. 

Bell recently returned to Washington Metro. But this time, to a standing ovation: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/10/04/violinist-joshua-bell-washington_n_5933018.html

What do you think? Feel free to comment below. 

Burning Coconuts for a Cause

We all have to do our part to help the world, here is one way. Today, I am burning coconut shells on the backyard barbecue to make charcoal. Why? For my science fair project I’m attempting to create a water filter out of all local materials from the Amazon Rainforest. I was inspired by a life-changing journey I went on in September 2014 to Ecuador. This adventure was with Me to We and Free the Children who work to provide better lives for children in developing countries.  Although it was a volunteer service trip with hard work, it was nothing other than rewarding. Even when I was carrying bricks under the blistering mid day sun with almost 100 percent humidity, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it because I knew I was helping to give these children an education and more opportunities in life. And even when I was dripping in sweat and completely exhausted, I would still give the little kids wheelbarrow rides because they made me realize how a simple gesture can change the world, and that laughing is a universal language. In these Amazonian villages they don’t have clean water, which causes illness and parasites in the children. That is why I’m making a water filter that they can easily source and build for themselves at almost no cost. That is why I’m burning coconuts on a Sunday afternoon. 

— by M.F.D. 

Amazon village boys

What is "One World"?

What do you think "One World" means? Stick figures standing on the globe holding hands? Or is there a better way? 

Youth action

If you want to be part of youth action, be willing

For service is like food –

You never have your filling

The power of will has

NO BORDERS

Since we are youth we have unlimited potential

Our brains eagerly want to do good and

Making change for the better is a

TALL ORDER

Doing good is like a speck of light – it’s essential

Don’t let the dark swallow you up

For they could use you against good

And you would be like a helpless pup

So take a stand and have courage to rise up

All Youth have the potential to think beyond all

ORDERS

For serving the world

HAS

NO

BORDERS

– By S.J.M. 

Ebola fighters are TIME's person of the year →

They risked and persisted, sacrificed and saved. Editor Nancy Gibbs explains why Ebola Fighters are TIME's choice for Person of the Year 2014. http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-ebola-fighters-choice/

We have started our campaign!

A group of aspiring young musicians will play music from around the world at a fundraising concert on the evening of March 28, 2015 in Toronto. Ticket sales will be donated to MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders).

We are kick starting our fundraising campaign for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders. Buy tickets to our concert and donate to MSF before Dec 31 and get a 2014 charitable donation tax receipt!