The call for applications for our annual “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić” Scholarship is now open. On this occasion, we are publishing an interview with last year’s scholarship recipient, Amer Maslo, a PhD candidate at the Oriental Institute of the University of Sarajevo.
What does your research focus on?
Through this project, my research has focused on the history of childhood. I concentrated on the lives, upbringing, and survival of children in the territory of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina during the uprising in Herzegovina and Bosnia (1875–1878). I am particularly interested in how this armed conflict affected children’s safety and everyday life.
During archival research in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad, I paid special attention to the issues of displacement and migration, as these most clearly show how children experienced war. I believe that the way a society treated children in the past can tell us a great deal about that society, its values, and the processes that shaped it.
Currently, in cooperation with the War Childhood Museum, we are working on organizing a panel on childhood in times of conflict, which will cover the period from the 1875 uprising to the 1992–1995 aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think this is an important step toward bringing this topic closer to both academic audiences and the wider public.
In what way did the “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić” Scholarship contribute to the development of your research?
The “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić” Scholarship played a key role in the realization of my research. It enabled me to conduct archival research outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I collected significant materials necessary for this project, as well as for my doctoral dissertation, which focuses on the same historical period.
At a time when research costs are high and support programs like this are rare, this scholarship represents an exceptionally important form of support for young researchers. For me personally, it was both an honor and a responsibility, as well as an additional source of motivation, since I see it as confirmation that the topic I am working on is recognized as socially and academically relevant.
What advice would you give to young researchers who are considering applying?
To everyone working on topics relevant to this scholarship, I would sincerely recommend applying to the new call by the War Childhood Museum and the “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić” Foundation. It is an exceptional opportunity that can significantly facilitate the work of young researchers, especially at the doctoral level.
The application process is simple and does not require excessive administrative paperwork, which is truly rare. My advice to candidates is to clearly and convincingly explain why their topic is important, what new perspectives it brings, and what kind of contribution it can make. I consider originality, a clearly defined goal, and a well-explained methodology to be key factors.
Finally, I wish everyone who decides to apply the best of luck and much success.
To learn more about the scholarship, visit: https://warchildhood.org/ba/otvoren-konkurs-za-stipendiju-lejla-hairlahovic-husic/
