Project Concept

Children, whether displaced or in relatively safe areas, live in a disturbing and uncertain environment during war. Their lack of understanding can exacerbate their trauma. To address this, we developed a cross-disciplinary project combining trauma-focused therapy, storytelling, non-formal education, and art.

Our project targets displaced families and children, engaging them through various artistic mediums and therapeutic methods. By providing a safe space for expression, we aim to integrate children into new contexts, promote dialogue, and support mental health through cultural activities.

Key Activities and Outputs

Trauma Work Forum in Sarajevo: Practicing psychologists, scientists, cultural workers, specialists working with children with the purpose to analyze best practices, consolidate multifaceted experiences, and strengthen the team’s skills in working with children and families during wartime.

Storytelling Courses for Children:

• Literature: Storytelling through writing.
• Forum-Theater: Storytelling through acting.
• Visual Art: Storytelling through drawing, sculpture, and object creation.
• Audio Studios: Storytelling through radio and podcast recordings.
• Psychologist Involvement: Ensuring emotional safety during sessions.

Public Lectures and Workshops for Parents and Educators, guiding them on how to talk to children about war, and for Professionals sharing methods developed during the project for working with children and families.

Community Engagement and Outreach:

• Exhibition: Featuring stories and artworks created by the children, aimed at fostering integration and tolerance.
• Online Workshop: Sharing work methods and experiences with partner organizations.

Expected Outcomes

• Emotional Expression: Creating a safe space for displaced children to express their experiences.
• Psychological Healing: Supporting the mental well-being and resilience of traumatized children.
• Community Integration: Helping families and children engage with the local community.
• Knowledge Transfer: Equipping parents, teachers, and professionals with tools to support children affected by war.

Sarajevo Visit

A Deep Dive into Post-Conflict Healing
As part of the project “Hear the Children: Healing Through Stories and Art”  we had the opportunity to welcome the team from the Cublo Art Center, Ukraine to Sarajevo in February 2024. Given the challenging times Ukraine is currently facing, and the similarities between their situation and the experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we emphasized the sharing of best practices from these tough periods. Our focus was on exploring various cultural facets and emphasizing the significance of art and literature in discovering hope during dark times, and later on, in overcoming trauma.

The first stop on our tour was the War Childhood Museum. The Museum is dedicated to documenting and digitizing materials related to growing up in war and presenting them through various media. It has the aim to educate the wider audience, to help individuals overcome trauma, and to foster mutual understanding. As such it serves as a beacon of resilience, empathy, and historical preservation, shedding light on the profound experiences of war-affected childhood and inspiring collective healing and understanding. Our guests had the opportunity to visit the museum, see the exhibition, and have a discussion with the Executive Director of the museum, Amina Krvavac.

Ars Aevi Museum of Modern Art
The next visit was to the Ars Aevi exhibition in the Town Hall of Sarajevo. Ars Aevi museum was chosen because it was established during the siege of Sarajevo and as such was one of the participants in the cultural resistance movement in Sarajevo. Considering that “Cublo” engages in contemporary art, this was a perfect destination for us. The staff of the Art Center “Cublo” were introduced to the exhibition by the founder, Enver Hadžiomerspahić. This was a very insightful experience since Enver had the opportunity to share his insights and experiences, inspiring our guests to emulate the museum’s resilience and commitment to cultural preservation in their own community back home.

Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995
On our second day, we embarked on a profound journey to the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity And Genocide 1992-1995. At Galerija 11/07/95, we encountered the first memorial gallery in Bosnia and Herzegovina—a solemn space dedicated to preserving the memory of the Srebrenica tragedy and the 8372 individuals who tragically lost their lives in the massacres. The permanent exhibition paints a haunting picture of what remained of Srebrenica after the genocide, utilizing multimedia content to offer both documentary and artistic interpretations of the events that unfolded in July 1995.

This museum-gallery hybrid is a testament to the power of blending artistic expression with historical documentation. It doesn’t just present history as a static record but intervenes in the present moment, urging visitors to confront the reality of violence and injustice. Srebrenica stands not only as a symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s war but also as a reminder of the suffering of innocent people and the global community’s obligation to act against such atrocities. Through its innovative use of mixed media—photography, video, and interactive documentaries—the gallery challenges visitors to contemplate the intricate politics of memory and forgetting that have shaped our understanding of this tragic event. It’s a poignant call to action against all forms of violence, compelling us to confront the past and strive for a future rooted in peace and compassion.

War Theater of SARTR
Our journey led us to the Sarajevo War Theatre – SARTR (Sarajevski Ratni Teatar SARTR) established in May 1992 during the War in BiH, which stands as a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. It brought together actors and collaborators from three professional theaters in Sarajevo that had to suspend operations due to the aggression.

Our discussion with the director and actress Maja Salkić, against the backdrop of this historic theater, was rich with insightful information. Delving into the role of SARTR, its ongoing activities, and collaborations with Ukrainian artists and actors, we discovered the profound connections between the artistic communities of Bosnia and Ukraine.

The theater component holds particular significance as it contributes to the broader narrative of our project and will play a vital role in the final exhibition in Ukraine. SARTR’s engagement not only adds depth to the shared experiences of conflict and recovery but also highlights the universal language of art in fostering understanding and healing.

Peace Academy
Our journey through the project “Voices of Childhood: Healing Through Stories and Art” activities in Sarajevo reached a pivotal moment during our final meeting, where we had the privilege of delving into the realm of trauma-informed peacebuilding with Amela Puljek-Shank from the Mirovna akademija / Peace Academy. For our guests from Cublo Art Center, whose passion lies in art therapy and trauma-focused therapy, this discussion proved invaluable. Amela’s insights provided a profound understanding of how trauma-informed approaches can be seamlessly integrated into peacebuilding efforts.

The knowledge shared by Amela will undoubtedly serve as a guiding light for our guests upon their return to “Cublo,” especially given their unwavering commitment to supporting internally displaced families and children in the aftermath of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The mission of “Cublo,” which champions innovative approaches to art, community engagement, and transformative educational experiences, resonates deeply with the Peace Academy’s overarching goal of fostering a culture of peace across all social spheres. This alignment not only underscores the significance of our connection but also opens doors for potential future collaborations.

Online Engagement
Our journey through the project “Hear the Children: Healing Through Stories and Art” continued as we engaged in two enlightening online sessions with Velma Šarić from The Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) and Ajna Jusić, the CEO of the Zaboravljena djeca rata / Forgotten Children of War Association.

During these sessions, Velma and Ajna graciously shared their profound experiences and innovative approaches to dealing with trauma through various art forms. From organizing exhibitions locally and internationally to captivating audiences with compelling theatre shows like “In the Name of the Father,” and creating impactful documentary series such as “Ordinary Heroes,” their work resonated deeply with our project’s mission.

Our partners, recognizing the importance of connecting these experiences to the context of Ukraine and our project, posed insightful questions, seeking to bridge the experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine in a meaningful way. Through thoughtful dialogue and exchange, we explored avenues for collaboration and solidarity, envisioning how similar initiatives could be implemented in Ukraine to foster healing and resilience among war-affected children and communities.