The War Childhood Museum stores and preserves memories of the innocent children who have gone through difficult and complex childhoods due to the war. It started with a mission of advancing mutual understanding and reconciliation – now, the museum is the world’s largest archive dedicated to the experience of children growing up during war.
As someone who grew up in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have always heard the stories from my family members about the way war interfered with their lives. My mother was only 19 years old when the war occurred. The stories she would tell me always made me admire her and all the others for the courage they had, but ultimately, these stories made me sad and, in a certain way, grateful. I am grateful that such a terrible reality did not mark my childhood and adolescence.
It was my first visit to this museum, and I must say it was moving and profoundly affecting. As I moved through the exhibits, every individual item and story showed how the war had taken away the innocence, security, and simplicity of childhood from many lives. War is not easy on anyone; it turns ordinary, everyday life into survival, forcing the youngest to mature far too quickly. Museum’s eexhibits are now also, unfortunately, including the painful and tragic stories from other recent conflicts, not only the ones in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Nonetheless, some of the stories had an optimistic undertone which I believe was very important at the time – hope was still present, accompanied by internal strength and resilience.
The museum’s intimate collection of memories made the conflict’s impact resonate deeply and vividly with the visitor, depicting not only historical events but also the emotional experiences of the children who endured them. This museum and its purpose serve as a strong reminder of how warfare transforms entire generations, leaving scars that persist well beyond the battlefield and conclusion of conflict.
