After the opening of the exhibition “Listen” in May this year at the Swedish Air Force Museum in Linköping, the War Childhood Museum has now presented a second exhibition in the country this year. The new exhibition opened on September 18 at the Sundsvall Museum in Sweden, presenting stories of childhoods affected by war — not only from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also from ten other conflicts around the world, including World War II, Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Yemen, Croatia, and Kosovo.
Through personal testimonies and objects, visitors have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of war on children, but also to feel their hopes, dreams, and the strength with which they faced challenges during wartime.
The exhibition was opened in the presence of Amina Krvavac, Director of the War Childhood Museum, and Ivana Roso, WCM’s Exhibition Coordinator. On this occasion, Krvavac and UNICEF Ambassador Mark Levengood addressed the audience, while curator Lejla Porović moderated a short conversation with special guests Saleh Dirawi and Helena Haglund, who shared their personal experiences as refugees from Palestine and Finland.
Current Conflicts
Krvavac emphasized that at the core of the WCM’s work—and of this exhibition—is the creation of safe spaces where children and young people who have endured extreme adversity can feel truly heard and seen.
“What we are witnessing today — the live-streamed destruction of Ukraine, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the colossal failure to stop these atrocities — is not only a moral crisis but a collapse of our shared humanity,” she said. By bringing the conversation about war to a deeply human, personal level through children’s perspectives, the Museum seeks to counter dehumanization and to advocate for the rights and dignity of every child, everywhere.
The exhibition will remain open until March 8, 2026, and entry is free. Visitors can also see the exhibition in Linköping until January 2026.
Photos by Ivana Roso.
