We have just returned from our sixth mission to Ukraine in support of the displaced population in Lviv, accompanying Mediterranea Saving Humans once again on what was their 22nd mission there, that took place from 29 November to 7 December.

It is wonderful to see how the Ukrainian refugees are still alive: finding tables laden with food waiting for us is not only a warm welcome and a testament to how important ‘being together’ is at all levels, but also how this population has not given up and succumbed to despair, but is still capable of rejoicing and sharing, of creating and sharing human warmth, despite being displaced refugees, with their past gone and their future uncertain.

The process of psychosocial support that we provide through music in the various places we visit continues: once again, we have seen evidence that there is ‘something’ between us that does not break after we leave, and whose presence is testified to by the greater fluidity and richness of musical interactions, the development of a shared repertoire, and the more immediate ability to follow the musical affordances that the situation offers. The songs we sing together now are becoming more than just the imperfect performance of musical pieces: they are becoming a repertoire shared by two cultures that join together in resistance and music; Bella ciao (the popular Italian resistance song) performed in alternating verses in Italian and Ukrainian, is a good example of this.

This time, we met again with our music therapist colleagues from the local association to discuss opportunities for collaboration that we hope will become a reality over the course of the next year. For this reason, here at Music & Resilience we will now take a little time to reflect on these first two years of experience in Ukraine and on the best way to continue developing musical and psychosocial resources in local communities, promoting the ongoing development of this mixed group that is taking shape in recent months.