The pencil case you received as humanitarian aid during the war when you were fourteen is now part of the War Childhood Museum’s collection. It is currently featured in the “Childhood Under Siege” exhibition in Gorazde. Why did you decide to donate it to the Museum?
Donating an object to the “Childhood Under Siege” exhibition appealed to me. It was the best place for my pencil case, as it no longer represents only my personal story. Every generation of students I have taught as a teacher has loved it because they had never seen it before and couldn’t buy it anywhere. I think it should continue its journey as a museum exhibit.
You’ve kept the pencil case all these years, and inside it were various pens you only started using after you began teaching at the same school you attended during the siege of Gorazde. Students often ask about the pens and pencil case. How do you explain the war to them today?
It is always difficult to discuss the war, especially with children. When I speak with them, I emphasize the horrors that war brings, but I mainly focus on our strong desire for education. I share stories about how we made notebooks out of scraps of paper, how we looked out for one another, and the empathy we showed each other. I also talk about how we studied a lot because we were determined to achieve dreams that were otherwise denied to us.
One of the Museum’s main activities is to educate children and young people about peace and justice. Is it important today to discuss the negative consequences of war on individuals and society?
I strongly believe that we should not erase the memory of wartime, particularly because it destroyed the beauty of childhood. The impact of war on my own life—how it forced me to grow up too quickly—is something I cannot ignore. I am deeply committed to addressing this period because I do not want any child to experience such loss. Sharing the stories of what happened in this region is essential. These painful narratives are more than just history; they are valuable lessons. They serve as warnings and reminders for us all to actively oppose any thoughts or actions that might lead to war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By confronting the past and understanding its consequences, we can work toward a more peaceful future.
Pencil Case from Humanitarian Aid
When the UN forces entered Goražde in ’94, they gave us, the children, these pencil cases. Up to then, we had only carried one pencil that could fit in our pocket to school. Each pencil case contained a fountain pen and a ballpoint pen but, since we didn’t have cartridges, we couldn’t use the former.
After the war, I started working in the same school I had attended during the aggression. That’s when I first started using the pencil case, fountain pen, and ballpoint pen that I had kept safe for years. Children often asked where I got such a pencil case, so it frequently prompted stories of my wartime childhood, my love of learning, and the importance of being in school.
Senada, born 1980, Goražde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
In your opening speech at our exhibition in Gorazde, you highlighted that the stories and objects we preserve not only reflect the losses but also showcase the strength and resilience of children during the war. As a teacher, how do you believe children can contribute to peacebuilding?
It’s easy to say that the future of the world rests in the hands of the youth, but what kind of future are we talking about? Children are the purest beings on the planet, and it’s crucial to keep their minds untainted. For children to effectively contribute to peacebuilding, we must provide them with a high quality of life in our country. This includes better education, a clear vision for the future, and a shift in perception from seeing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a place of perpetual conflict. Our children love their homeland, but the ongoing political narratives undermine their hope for a better future in this region.
Is there something specific you would like the War Childhood Museum to focus on or achieve in the coming years?
You have already made a significant impact on the world. While it may be utopian to expect that everyone will be aware of these issues, your traveling exhibition will undoubtedly spark new questions and concerns for some children growing up in war-torn areas today. The harsh reality I faced as a child is that the world often seems indifferent, and such tragedies continue to occur. I hope the exhibition will serve as a poignant reminder, especially for those who may not fully grasp the enduring trauma that war inflicts on children.
Thank you for the conversation!
The “Childhood Under Siege” exhibition, a collaboration between the War childhood Museum, the Cultural Center and the Goražde Homeland Museum, supported by the Ministry of Culture of Sarajevo Canton, is open to all visitors until August 15, 2024, at the Gorazde Cultural Center, daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
