This month, we marked our eighth anniversary with the opening of Children of War, People of Peace, a powerful photo exhibition by Milomir Kovačević Strašni. Alongside this milestone event, our team continued regular educational activities, testimony collection, and special projects in Bosnia and Ukraine.
Read more about our activities this month:
Educational Programs and Visits
In March, we welcomed over 300 visitors through educational programs, including guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the UK, Germany, France, the USA, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and Croatia. We also hosted a Scottish delegation organized by Remembering Srebrenica.
Eighth Anniversary and Exhibition Opening
To mark eight years of the War Childhood Museum, we partnered with renowned photographer Milomir Kovačević Strašni on an exhibition revisiting his wartime portraits of children, now photographed again as adults. Here’s a glimpse into how we prepared the exhibition and here you can hear Strašni talk about how it came to be. The exhibition, Children of War, People of Peace, opened on March 28 following a panel and presentation.
Director Amina Krvavac reflected on the Museum’s key achievements, while Namir Ibrahimović from Step by Step highlighted our joint peacebuilding work through the PEACESTORY project. Actress Maja Salkić read a story by a contributor from Palestine, and Ukrainian photographer Oksana Parafeniuk shared a moving video presentation on the impact of war on children.
The Museum’s founder, Jasminko Halilović, spoke about our expanding work in WCM in Ukraine, where the WCM team continues documenting children’s experiences of war. A panel discussion moderated by Kristina Ljevak Bajramović featured Milomir Kovačević and two individuals portrayed in the exhibition—Adna Idrizović and Damir Hodžić—who shared personal reflections.
Testimonies
WCM continues to expand its archive. In March, our Ukraine team recorded testimony about the 1989 Fergana massacre in Uzbekistan, now the 21st conflict documented by the Museum. We also published an interview with one of our first contributors, Mirela Geko—take a look at her reflections on sharing her story.
Special Projects
In WCM in Bosnia, training sessions continued for teachers and students participating in the UN-supported PEACESTORY project. Watch some reflections from these sessions here.
In WCM in Ukraine, we launched IMBALANCE—a Contemporary Art and Documentation Lab for Teenagers. In the first two sessions, participants met the project team, explored personal experiences through art, and worked with a psychologist and a theater director on performative practices.
Media Mentions
The War Childhood Museum is regularly featured in both Bosnian and international media. Here, you can find a selection of articles covering the Museum from the past month.
- ‘Children of War, People of Peace’: Bosnia’s War Childhood Museum Marks Anniversary | Balkan Insight
- Izložba “Djeca rata, ljudi mira“ Milomira Kovačevića Strašnog za rođendan Muzeja ratnog djetinjstva – Detektor (BOSNIAN)
- Halilović: Muzej ratnog djetinstva postavlja nove standarde (BOSNIAN)
Svitlana Osipchuk, Program Director of WCM in Ukraine, was featured in the latest issue of Local History magazine, contributing to a special edition on childhood with insights from our work during the full-scale invasion.
Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events and initiatives!
