Creative Music Workshop Leader for Refugee Children

Sandblast Arts Background

Founded in 2005, Sandblast is a volunteer-led London-based charity committed to empowering and uplifting the voices of the Saharawi refugees of Western Sahara. Our mission is to raise global awareness of their struggle for self-determination through skills-training, educational programmes, and the arts. We envision a world where the Saharawi story is recognized, and their culture preserved and celebrated.

What We Do

At Sandblast, we believe in the transformative power of creativity and community engagement. Our primary project, Desert Voicebox, is located in the Boudjour refugee camp in Algeria. Launched in 2016, it is a pioneering after-school programme where local teachers are trained by our volunteers to provide English and music education to primary school children. Desert Voicebox remains the only programme in the camps offering extracurricular learning that fosters self-expression, language skills, and educational growth.

Why work with Sandblast?

Volunteering with Sandblast offers a meaningful opportunity to work within underserved communities, gain hands-on experience, and directly impact the lives of Saharawi children and educators in challenging environments. Our volunteers bring creativity, dedication, and a passion for social change to every role, helping to foster a sense of empowerment and cultural pride in the refugee camps. We support you in acquiring a visa, traveling to the refugee camps, and setting up accommodation and meals with a local host family during your time volunteering. We are also able to offer payments and stipends to those who are highly qualified. Join us to be part of a mission that harnesses creativity and solidarity to uplift the Saharawi people.

Creative Music Workshop Leader Role Overview

We are seeking creative educators to lead music and arts-based workshops that enhance English language and music skills among Saharawi refugee children.

As a Creative Music Workshop Leader, you’ll design, plan, and deliver engaging workshops that incorporate artistic, musical, and playful elements to support development and arts education. We encourage bringing your own background, passions, and creativity and are open to any ideas or art/music mediums you may want to employ with the children to foster their creative growth and self-confidence and to make learning interactive and fun. At the moment, we especially encourage ukulele workshops , piano workshops, and choral skills workshops, but are open to other styles of workshops as well.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead interactive music workshops for children, focusing on English and music fundamentals.
• Introduce new instruments (such as harmonicas and ukuleles), musicality, and singing exercises.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with vulnerable groups
• Some experience teaching or working with children
• Flexibility and adaptability in a new setting
• Native English proficiency (preferred)
• A passion for incorporating creativity into educational settings

Time Commitment:

• Minimum stay of 2 weeks in the camps, with longer stays encouraged to build stronger connections with the children.
• Availability from September to April for in-person workshops.
• Virtually working with our London-based prior to going to the camps to plan workshop content and logistics.