The Story of How Peace Drums Project Was Founded

Discover the inspiring story behind the Peace Drums Project, our nonprofit organization which is using music as a tool for conflict resolution and promoting peace.

Our story 

This is the story about how Peace Drums Project came to be. Twenty years ago, during the Iraq War, our founder, Harvey Price, applied for funding from the U.S. government for a project titled  “Conflict Resolution through the Arts”.

Harvey had already been teaching steel drums for 12 years by that point, and he saw the potential for using music as a tool to promote cultural understanding and for bringing people together.

‘Harvey's idea was to create a steel drum band with both Jewish and Arab children, allowing them to learn and grow together.’

Harvey's idea was to create a steel drum band with both Jewish and Arab children, allowing them to learn and grow together. Although he did not receive the funding,  he continued to talk to people about his idea, eventually catching the attention of Delaware Churches for Middle East Peace, who decided to invest in the project in 2012.

It took another two years of fundraising and in 2014 the first set of drums arrived in Israel. The original plan was for Arab and Jewish students to practice separately once a week, then come together for joint practices 2-3 times a month. The goal was to create change at the grassroots, on a people to people  level, using music to promote peace and unity among children from different backgrounds.

‘The goal was to create change at the grassroots’

An up and down journey 

Our project proved successful, and Peace Drums Project began to grow. We started performing in Europe and the U.S., spreading our message of peace and understanding through music. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to our international performances, forcing us to re-evaluate our approach.

Now, Peace Drums Project is building up again, but with a new twist: a marching percussion drumline. The children went to their first international trip since the pandemic, to Germany, in May 2023.

A powerful example 

To us, Peace Drums Project is a powerful example of how music can be used as a tool for conflict resolution and promoting peace. By using steel drums, an instrument not traditionally associated with any of the cultures in the Middle East, , our organization can unite children from diverse backgrounds and provide them with an opportunity to learn and grow together. The project may have started small, but it has grown into a powerful force for good in the world, with the potential to create positive change and inspire others to do the same.

Join us in our mission to promote peace and cultural understanding through music by supporting Peace Drums Project.

Whether you donate to our organization or share our story with others, you can make a difference in the lives of children from diverse backgrounds. Together, we can create a more peaceful and harmonious world.

Learn more about our project here >