In June, we continued our international outreach, hosted high-level visitors, presented exhibitions at home and abroad, and marked important commemorative days with stories from our collection. We also took part in global conversations on peacebuilding and migration, while highlighting the voices of young people and survivors.
Read more about our activities this month:
Educational Programs and Visits
We had almost 500 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Wales, and the United States complete educational visits to the Museum.
Ms. Awa Dabo, Director and Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) of the United Nations, visited the War Childhood Museum, where she was welcomed by Director Amina Krvavac. During the visit, they discussed the Museum’s contributions to peacebuilding in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the importance of cultural institutions in fostering sustainable peace.
The Spanish Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. María Molina Álvarez de Toledo, also visited the Museum, accompanied by renowned Bosnian designer Belma Tvico. They were welcomed by Director Krvavac, and together reflected on the role of the Museum in reconciliation processes and intercultural dialogue.
We also had the pleasure of presenting our work to a group of high school students as part of the Mostar Summer Youth Program, organized by the UčiMo Foundation. The presentation was followed by an engaging discussion where students shared their views on peace education in schools and society. You can find more information here.
Our Creativity for Peace program is currently on a short summer break while schools are closed, but before the break, we spoke with one of our lecturers about the program’s pedagogical approach and with a participating high school teacher. Take a look at their impressions here.
Exhibitions
As part of the international conference From Gender-Responsive Justice to Sustainable Peace: A Vision for the Next 25 Years, held on June 12–13 in Sarajevo, the War Childhood Museum—in cooperation with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina—presented the exhibition Speaking Out.
Developed entirely in collaboration with women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and children born as a result of that violence, the exhibition centers their voices and stories. Read more here and check out the atmosphere from the opening in this video.
Meanwhile, War Childhood Museum Ukraine opened an exhibition developed through IMБALANCE, a contemporary art and documentation lab that began in March. The exhibition presented the work of eight teenage participants who explored personal and collective experiences through artistic expression—offering an insight into what it means to grow up in wartime Ukraine. Take a look at the opening here.
Conferences
Our Exhibition Officer, Ajla Fazlić, participated in a series of events in Italy commemorating World Refugee Day and launching the third edition of Festival Balkanika 2025. She spoke at the panel “On the Route to Peace: The Challenge of Reception” alongside colleagues from Bosnia and Italy, reflecting on building peace through memory and civic engagement. Several refugee-related stories from our collection were on display throughout the program.
Marking Special Days
June 4 — International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
The War Childhood Museum marked this United Nations observance by highlighting the many sides of childhood in war—loss, displacement, survival, and strength—through personal stories from our collection of over 6,000 testimonies. You can read some of their stories here.
June 19 — International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
We used this day to spotlight Speaking Out, our exhibition dedicated to raising awareness about conflict-related sexual violence, amplifying the voices of survivors, and challenging the stigma that often silences them.
June 20 — World Refugee Day
To mark World Refugee Day, we shared a story from Gaza about a special dress. Read the story here.
Special Projects and News
TexTALES
The War Childhood Museum is a part of TexTALES, a project that blends ethical fashion with personal storytelling to promote the social and professional inclusion of migrants. Following our co-creation workshop in May, project activities are now underway across Europe. To read more, click here.
Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of Our Guides
Ever wondered what a working day looks like for our museum guides? All of them are young students who balance their academic lives with a deep commitment to the Museum’s mission.
Take a peek in our latest video.
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.
- Sometimes Meeting a Teenager Helps Adults Rediscover Themselves: Curator Daria Molokoyedova on the Exhibition “Imbalance” (Ukrainian)
- AJBCAFE: Survivors – Let’s Speak (Out) About Wartime Rape (Bosnian)
- “We Grew Up in War” – When a Video Game Becomes a Testimony of a Childhood That Doesn’t Forget (Bosnian)
