The mission of the War Childhood Museum is advanced through a group of legal entities operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. Each entity serves its local context while contributing to WCM’s global vision.

All entities have their own governing structures, but they are connected through a shared mission and the shared right to use the War Childhood Museum trademark. This model ensures a strong local foundation and ownership in each country, while maintaining coherence of work, values, and impact across the WCM network.

Each entity focuses on specific areas of advancing WCM’s mission. On this page, you can find basic information about all entities and their focus areas.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fondacija Muzej ratnog djetinjstva (MRD) was established in 2018 to ensure the long-term care of the War Childhood Museum’s collection, mission, and operations. Before this dedicated legal entity was established, the War Childhood Museum operated through another local NGO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which served as its legal and operational vehicle from the project’s inception in 2010. Incorporated as a non-profit foundation under the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fondacija MRD is the largest entity within the WCM network.

Focus areas: Fondacija MRD operates the permanent museum in Sarajevo, preserves and expands WCM’s collection from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other conflict and post-conflict countries, and implements extensive peacebuilding programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also contributes to WCM’s international representation, supports global exhibitions, and plays a central role in shaping the organization’s methodologies and strategic direction.

Legal entity: Fondacija Muzej ratnog djetinjstva (MRD)
Address: Logavina 32, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
ID number: 4202602970007
Year of incorporation: 2018

In the photo: The War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo, WCM’s first permanent museum, opened in 2017.

Ukraine

The Children in Armed Conflicts Research Center is a non-governmental organization incorporated and operating under the laws of Ukraine. It serves as the War Childhood Museum’s entity in Ukraine, working to advance WCM’s mission in the local context.

Focus areas: The organization is responsible for archiving and expanding WCM’s Ukraine collection, and for running exhibitions and other public programs across the country. It also contributes to WCM’s international representation, supports global exhibitions, and plays a role in the development of WCM’s methodological approaches.

Legal entity: Центр досліджень дитинства у збройних конфліктах
Address: Yaroslaviv Val st, Kyiv, Ukraine
ID number: 44616754
Year of incorporation: 2020

War Childhood Museum Opens its First Exhibition in Kyiv, Ukraine
In the photo: Objects displayed at WCM’s first exhibition in Kyiv, focusing on the experiences of internally displaced children and youth (Kyiv, 2021).

Netherlands

Stichting The War Childhood Museum is a foundation incorporated and operating under the laws of the Netherlands. Established in 2021, it was created to strengthen the War Childhood Museum’s presence within the European Union and to support the development of its activities internationally.

Focus areas: The organization is responsible for developing and managing WCM’s partnerships and projects in the Netherlands and across the European Union, including multinational cooperation initiatives. It plays a key role in WCM’s international representation, fundraising, partnership building, the organization of international exhibitions, and the development of the organization’s methodologies and strategic vision.

More information

Legal entity: Stichting The War Childhood Museum
Address: Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511CJ, The Hague
KVK: 84551380
Year of incorporation: 2021

Meeting between WCM's Founder and WCM Ukraine Project Manager and Dutch King Willem-Alexander
In the photo: WCM’s Founder and Director-General, Jasminko Halilović, speaking with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands at WCM’s exhibition at the Council of Europe.