(ይህንን ፖስት (ልጥፍ) በአማርኛ ማንበብ ትችላላችሁ፡፡)

Last October, Music Therapists Erin and Emma were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for four weeks to either deliver training or strength existing Partners’ use of music at four different care settings. This saw a total of 26 caregivers trained and supported, providing 306 adults access to music sessions across all care settings.

You might have been keeping up with Erin and Emma’s blogs throughout their time in Ethiopia where they shared more about the incredible sessions that they delivered. Using their experience as music therapists, they were able to share with participants how they can use music to strengthen the care they currently provide.

How the team, Erin and Emma, interacted with the patients were amazing. Even with the language barrier, the interaction was really nice.

Participating staff member at Hospice Ethiopia

Once Emma and Erin equipped staff with what they needed to use music, the participating staff from all settings fed back to us what they learnt:

We learned new music therapy systems and methods…We have explored ways on how to contextualise the music therapy lesson to our culture and context.

Participating staff member at Hospice Ethiopia

I was learnt new skills how to keep the patient with music how to manage their behaviour with music.

Participating staff member at Lebeza Psychiatry Clinic

One aim of our activities in Ethiopia was to leave the participating staff with the skills to lead their own music sessions confidently and independently. 91% of participants shared that they were left feeling proud of their music sessions, they are now more confident and they enjoy working in their job more.

Music acts as a universal tool that has the power to elevate our mood, express our feelings and form new relationships. It can encourage communication and a social connection between people in care and their caregivers. This was all observed by many participating caregivers, seeing significant differences in the mood of their beneficiaries:

Some depressed patients was dancing.

Participating staff member at Lebeza Psychiatric Clinic

Even if they haven’t laughed before they have started to laugh currently.

Participating staff member at Gefersa Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre

[I saw]  young people who had never spoken before express their feelings through music

Participating staff member at FENAID

86% of caregivers said that the music sessions had increased participation, reduced isolation and reduced stress, whilst 77% of participants noted an improvement in the beneficiaries’ emotional expression, anxiety and relationship with staff members.

Our team are grateful for Erin and Emma’s efforts to help us deliver such impactful activities, and we are proud of our Ethiopian Partners’ dedication to using music. We are looking forward to catching up with them later this year to see how their music sessions have been going.

Are you in Ethiopia and interested in implementing music in your care setting?

Erin and Emma may return to Addis Ababa this year to visit our Ethiopian Partners at Gefersa Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, FENAID, Hospice Ethiopia and Lebeza Psychiatry Clinic.

It was wonderful. You should continue with this. We love you so much. 

Participating staff member at FENAID

If you are also in Ethiopia, and interested in learning more about using music, then please email our International Programme coordinator, Makeda Mitchell, at makedamitchell@musicastherapy.org for more information on how we can support you.