War Childhood Museum

The War Childhood Museum (WCM) is an independent human-centered museum dedicated exclusively to childhoods affected by armed conflicts. Based on the crowd-sourced book War Childhood and founded on the principles of social entrepreneurship, the independent, the youth-led War Childhood Museum has garnered recognition as the world’s only museum focused exclusively on childhoods that have been affected by war.

Through its unique platform, the WCM is able to tackle trauma on an individual level for participants and visitors – ultimately contributing to better understanding for society on the whole. Its first permanent exhibition opened in January 2017, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Having proven successful in providing Bosnians of all ages with a rare opportunity to confront the traumas of their recent past without reinforcing ethnic boundaries, the WCM has expanded its activities abroad.
Currently, WCM operates in Lebanon, Ukraine, and the United States – becoming an international platform that gives voice to current and former war children. Its quick growth aggregated a lot of attention and facilitated collaboration between WCM and some of the world’s leading universities.

WCM’s work can be summarized across three pillars:

Research: The Museum is currently conducting research across Ukraine-Russia, Gaza, Syria, Bosnia and Srebrenica focusing on the impact of the wars and conflict on childhood.
Exhibition: The Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts along with audio and video testimonies from individuals whose childhoods were affected by war. e.
Education: The War Childhood Museum has developed and is actively implementing educational programs to inspire greater awareness of the importance of creating a peaceful world for future generations. Each year, these programs engage over 5,000 children, empowering them to learn, reflect, and contribute to a more peaceful future.

Connect with WCM for:

Support their mission by donating
Learn more about travelling and ongoing exhibitions
Explore the different educational activities