The Unheard Project

How do you select musicians for the Unheard Music Project?

We welcome a wide range of original music submissions, without limitation on specific types of content or genres, in order to showcase as diverse a range of talents, voices, and backgrounds as possible. However, we regret that we are unable to accept copyrighted songs without explicit permission of the rights holder due to potential copyright infringement, unless the song calls in the public domain. 

In line with our commitment to protecting the well-being of the communities we serve, we may choose not to feature submissions that may potentially place individual safety or privacy at risk, and we continue to work closely with all contributors and collaborators on our policy of informed consent. 

How can I submit my work to The Unheard Project?

For music submission guidelines and contact information, please click here

To submit work to the Unheard Journalism Project, please click here.

For both, you can submit your original work to us at hello@borderless360.org and we’ll get back to you shortly. 

Who owns the copyright to the work?

Contributors retain all rights to their work, and individual contributor content usage agreements are developed with each contributor prior to presentation of their work.

The material on the Unheard Project portal may not be used or reproduced elsewhere without written permission from the contributors, artists and B360. Permission must be sought from the contributors for reproduction of these works in any form. B360 can facilitate any request for rights of usage, and can be reached at hello@borderless360.org

B360 General Questions

How do you decide who is considered a refugee?

Refugees are people who have been forced to flee mistreatment or persecution. We use the internationally accepted definition* of a refugee, and we also consider people who may be in similar circumstances, but do not fulfill legal criteria or do not have access to legal protection. This may include people forced to flee situations such as climate displacement and disasters, and those who have lived experiences as a refugee. 

*as articulated by the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, the Organisation of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (the 1969 Refugee Convention); the 1984 Cartagena Declaration and the 2009 African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention).

What makes B360 different?

We approach our initiatives from a community-based perspective which recognizes the strengths and potential within the communities. Working in the context of a humanitarian crisis, success for B360 means working ourselves out of a job; that is to say, ensuring ownership of the systems and solutions we help develop will ultimately be in the hands of refugee communities, so they can continue supporting themselves sustainably.

As a social enterprise, we are not limited by constraints that may apply to traditional NGOs, such as having our funding tied to donor’s needs and criteria. This allows us to direct our energy, time, and resources where they can make the most impact. As a small and mighty team, we are able to dedicate more time to direct engagement and the exploration of innovative and pioneering approaches to refugee support solutions.

How do you protect the safety and privacy and refugees who engage? 

We adhere to a strict safety and security protocol. You can learn more about our policy here: https://borderless360.org/index.php/privacy-policy/

Do you accept donations? 

We do not accept donations for our work; however, we are on the lookout for collaborative partners to grow our community and work together on our various projects. Do reach out to us at hello@borderless360.org and we will be happy to discuss.

How are refugees referred to you?

Our first points of contact are often organisations who are in direct contact with refugees and their communities — we’re very fortunate to have members within our broader B360 network with years of experience on the ground and can facilitate this. However, we are also reaching out independently to refugee communities and/or organisations who might be more underserved or underrepresented. If you know of an organisation or individual who could help link us up, please contact us at hello@borderless360.org

How can I support refugees? How else can I help?

1) We believe that no act is too small to count. Even a conversation with a peer about refugee rights is a great first step towards raising awareness. Awareness can help evolve the narrative and move us towards a more just and inclusive world.

2) Educate yourself and others responsibly. While there is a great deal of material about refugees and the humanitarian crises in the mass media, not all of them have been created equal. Diversify your research, check your sources, and ask if the people in the stories have been represented fairly. This can greatly help change the narrative and conversation around refugees and move us towards a more just and inclusive world. 

3) If you are in a position to do so, volunteer your time, expertise, or money. There are many organisations and charities worldwide who will benefit greatly from your support — we are always happy to recommend names for you to get in touch with but do note that our list is far from exhaustive. 

Without legal status, refugees are often blocked from accessing essential livelihood tools such as bank accounts. Sending money to individual refugees can be a challenge, but if you are already in direct contact with the individual, it is best to ask them what is their preferred modality with which to transfer the funds across. Another could be to contact a local NGO in the country to ask if it would be open to facilitate the transfer of funds to the individual refugee. Unfortunately, B360 is not in a position to facilitate such transactions, but we do urge anyone looking to do this to conduct the necessary research, and to exercise caution and discretion always so as to prioritise the refugee community’s safety.

For enquiries, contact us at hello@borderless360.org