The museum collection includes everyday items like a pair of ballet shoes, a handwritten diary, and a tin can used as a toy during the siege of Sarajevo.
The institution received the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2018.
Founder Jasminko Halilović authored the book 'War Childhood', which laid the foundation for the museum's creation.
The project started as a digital archive before transitioning into a permanent physical exhibition space.
The collection now includes items from children living in conflict zones beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Syria and Afghanistan.
The War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo is the world's only museum dedicated exclusively to the experiences of children who grew up during armed conflict. It houses a collection of thousands of personal items donated by individuals who were children during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War. Each artifact is paired with a first-person narrative explaining the object's significance to the owner's wartime childhood. The museum serves as an archive for the oral histories and physical remnants of this period. It was founded by Jasminko Halilović, who compiled the initial research via thousands of questionnaires sent to former war children. The museum has expanded its scope to include collections from other global conflict zones. It functions as a research center aimed at studying the long-term impacts of war on child development.
The main exhibition hall offers a panoramic view of the curated displays, though please respect privacy signs regarding specific artifacts.
Read the personal testimonies accompanying the artifacts to fully grasp the context of the collection.
Check the museum's website for temporary exhibitions that often focus on specific global conflicts.
Plan for extra time to browse the museum's curated gift shop, which supports their ongoing research.
Do not treat the exhibits as mere curiosities; these items represent traumatic lived experiences.
Maintain a quiet, respectful tone as the subject matter is sensitive and often deeply personal.
