We are proud to share the War Childhood Museum’s 2024 Annual Report, reflecting a year of growth, innovation, and impact. We also start a new chapter for the Museum, focused on securing long-term sustainability and resilience. Explore the highlights from the report below.
A Permanent Home in Sarajevo
One of the most exciting developments is our plan to build a permanent home for the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo. This 2,000-square-meter facility will host our permanent and temporary exhibitions, a collection archive, an education center, and community spaces. Our goal is to secure the land in 2025 and complete construction by 2028/2029, creating a lasting cornerstone for peacebuilding in the region.
Expanding Our Reach Globally
In 2024, the Museum presented exhibitions across three countries simultaneously: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and South Korea. Notably, our Childhood Under the Siege: Sarajevo 1992-1995 exhibition attracted over 200,000 visitors in Seoul, marking our largest traveling exhibition to date.
Growing Collection and Educational Impact
This year, our collection grew significantly, with new stories from Ukraine, Palestine, Thailand, Georgia, Chechnya, and Sweden. We also welcomed over 4,600 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad for educational visits and peacebuilding workshops.
Innovative Projects and Collaborations
We launched the PEACESTORY initiative, supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, to empower young peacemakers across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our collaboration with Charles Games led to the development of We Grew Up in War, an interactive video game set for release in 2026, exploring childhood experiences in conflict zones.
The War Childhood Museum Ukraine produced Ozymi (“Winter Crops”), a documentary theater project initiated by Andrii Borutia, whose own experiences of war inspired him to help others share their stories. Ten teenagers brought personal narratives of evacuation, loss, and interrupted childhoods to the stage, using storytelling as a means of healing and connection.
Stories of Impact
In 2024, the War Childhood Museum welcomed its first official school visit from Serbia, marking an important milestone in educational outreach. In March, students from Kragujevac visited the Museum and participated in peacebuilding workshops alongside students from Sarajevo.
This visit not only fostered meaningful connections but also laid the foundation for future cooperation, with a commitment to building trust and collaboration between younger generations in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thank You for Your Support
We are grateful for our donors, partners, and contributors who make our work possible. Would you like to learn more about our work in 2024?
Read the full 2024 Annual Report here.
