War Childhood Museum

During the work on the book "Childhood in War: Sarajevo 1992–1995", the author collected hundreds of personal stories, objects, and memories that bear witness to growing up in wartime as a complex and universal experience. These materials, often lost or damaged over the years, became the foundation for the establishment of the War Childhood Museum in 2015 – with the aim of permanently preserving and presenting the stories of children who, although they did not participate in the war, bore its consequences.

From Commercial Center to Treasury of the Past

Today, the museum represents a unique archive dedicated to the experience of childhood in war, with a mission to document, digitize, and educate through various media. Its vision is to contribute to a better understanding, overcome trauma, and strengthen empathy in society, reminding us of the importance of adult responsibility to create a safer and better world for children.

Experience the War Childhood Museum:

Museum Collection

preserves one of the most significant archives dedicated to the experience of growing up during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The collection includes over 5,000 items from various cities, such as books, letters, photographs, toys, and video testimonies, which are preserved for the purpose of exhibition, research, and education about this unique and universal experience.
Blue bunny

"I don't remember my brother. He was just a little older than me. They took him from my mother's arms and killed him. We fled our home without a chance to lock the door. Then we lived in a refugee camp. This blue bunny was the only thing that brought me joy. Its color and smile brightened even the hardest days. I gave away all my toys, keeping only him."
40 personal stories

The permanent exhibition comprises 40 personal stories that reveal the meaning and emotional value of the exhibited objects. Each year, the stories are rotated to showcase different aspects of growing up in wartime and the complexity of that experience. Although the focus is on childhoods marked by war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the exhibition also includes stories of children growing up in conflicts around the world today.
For the little ones

Visitors, in addition to the exhibition, also have access to a small museum library that provides space for reflection and creative expression, especially for the youngest, whose drawings and messages of peace become part of the exhibition itself.