The Story of Crea Thera International

Crea Thera International is a non-profit organization that uses music and creativity as powerful tools for recovery, connection, and resilience. Since 2006, the organization has been developing projects for children, young people, and adults in post-conflict and migration contexts, with a strong focus on mental health and social cohesion.

Beginnings in Srebrenica (2006–2008)

Crea Thera originated in 2006 during a summer camp in Srebrenica, led by music therapist Thomas Deleu. Eleven years after the Bosnian war, the camp brought together children from different communities around a shared music theatre production. Creativity proved to be a unique way to rebuild trust, dialogue, and connection. This initiative led to several follow-up camps and, in 2008, to the establishment of Crea Thera International as a non-profit organization.

Creative Therapy for Children (2008–2010)

In its early years, Crea Thera focused on children from Srebrenica and surrounding villages. Through music, theatre, dance, and visual arts, the organization supported their emotional and personal development. Creative sessions were also organized in a refugee camp in Tuzla. The work was carried out by international teams of therapists who periodically rotated.

Expansion to Adults (2010)

From 2010 onwards, Crea Thera expanded its activities to include adults. In Srebrenica, creative workshops and psychotherapeutic group sessions were organized for women, under the guidance of Bosnian psychotherapist Ajla Terzic. Despite the stigma surrounding mental health, Crea Thera remained committed to accessibility, safety, and inclusion.

New Partnerships and Target Groups (2011–2015)

Between 2011 and 2013, Crea Thera organized music therapy for people with drug addictions in Doboj. From 2013 to 2015, the team worked in the child psychiatry department of the University Hospital in Sarajevo, where weekly creative therapy sessions were offered to children with complex psychological needs.

Towards Sustainability and Local Embedding (2016–2019)

In 2016, Crea Thera took an important step towards sustainability. With the support of the Province of West Flanders, local workshop facilitators were trained in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Projects such as Sources of Life and The Power of Creative Therapies in Destigmatizing People with Mental Health Disorders strengthened local expertise and continuity. Due to organizational challenges, activities in Bosnia were temporarily scaled back in 2019, although music camps in mountain villages such as Osmace remained a key commitment.

Belgium: Music as a Bridge for Newcomers (2016–present)

Since 2016, Crea Thera has also been active in Belgium. Through projects such as Music Home, the organization offers music-therapeutic workshops for refugees and newcomers in reception centers and schools. In 2024 and 2025, weekly sessions took place in various reception centers in Flanders and Brussels, with particular attention to children, young people, and unaccompanied minors. Music functions as a universal language that reduces stress, fosters connection, and strengthens self-confidence.

Lebanon: Creativity in a Context of Crisis (2019–present)

In 2019, Crea Thera began a collaboration with the Lebanese NGO LOYAC. Youth workers were trained in basic music-therapeutic skills to support vulnerable children and young people. In 2023, the music theatre project I SEE YOU was launched in Beirut. Through music and theatre, young people were given a safe space to process experiences of war, loss, and uncertainty.

Despite escalating violence and an extremely precarious situation, Crea Thera remained active in 2024 and 2025 with emergency projects and creative programmes. The I SEE YOU performances not only offered healing for the participants but also touched a wide audience. At the same time, Crea Thera is preparing a new project in Lebanon for 2026.

Return and Deepening in Bosnia (2024–2025)

In 2024 and 2025, Crea Thera strengthened its presence once again in Bosnia with projects in Osmace and Vlasenica. In the context of 30 years since Srebrenica, the organization worked in 2025 with primary school children in Osmace on intensive music theatre trajectories focusing on memory, identity, and connection to their village. These trajectories concluded with performances for the local community.

In addition, several music therapy sessions were organized at the psychiatric center in Vlasenica.

Today and Tomorrow

From its origins in Srebrenica, Crea Thera International continues to build bridges between past and future. By using music and creativity as a universal language, the organization creates space for recovery, dialogue, and hope—in Belgium, Bosnia, and Lebanon, and in close collaboration with local communities.