ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��

"Children have no choice but to pay an enormous price for growing up in conflict," says Bjorn Wansink, associate professor in the Department of Education and Pedagogy. "History education is essential to realising its potential in transforming conflicts and addressing the legacies of a difficult past."

Over the past two years, I have contributed to the development of a Teachers’ Guide for Teaching Sensitive and Controversial Issues in the Post-Yugoslav Space. This manual is part of a larger project, titled “Learning History that is not yet History,” initiated by Euroclio (the European Association of History Educators) and involves collaboration with teachers and scholars from the Balkans. History education in post-conflict regions can be like a ticking time bomb, as history books often perpetuate enemy images from the past. Therefore, reforming history education is essential to realising its potential in transforming conflicts and addressing the legacies of a difficult past. The goal is to promote a pluralistic approach to teaching the recent wars, thus contributing to stability and mutual understanding in the region.

During my work visit to Sarajevo, I collaborated with teachers on creating educational materials. The discussions were intense and heated, reflecting the deep emotions tied to this work. I truly realised how profoundly the past is ingrained in us when I visited the War Childhood Museum with teachers who had personally experienced the war as children, and some even as soldiers. This museum, located in Sarajevo, is dedicated to exploring the unique experiences of children who grew up in the midst of war. The museum houses everyday items, each accompanied by a short story from a child who lived through the war. It is hard to imagine the lasting impact that war has on a child if you haven’t experienced it yourself. One quote that left a strong impression on me was: “We had no choice, so we lived a childhood none of us wanted.” - Zlatan, 1989.

While the group had been divided by war during the day, they found common ground in the shared past of Yugoslavia, nostalgia, and Yugo-rock

That evening, we visited Caffe Tito with the group of teachers. There, I saw another dimension of the conflict: while the group had been divided by war during the day, they found common ground in the shared past of Yugoslavia, nostalgia, and Yugo-rock. I think the drinks helped, too. In my various trips to conflict areas, working toward a peaceful future.

I have found that the most significant moments between people rarely occur at official conferences or workshops. It is often in unexpected moments and environments that people reconnect and rehumanize each other. Moreover, given the current polarisation within Dutch society, we can learn from the bravery of these teachers who, despite their troubled pasts, work together toward a peaceful future.

Regarding the War Childhood Museum, it is clear that children have no choice but to pay an enormous price for growing up in conflict. We all bear a responsibility to ensure that children can grow up in safety. Given all the ongoing conflicts, such as those in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, we must do better together. I strongly recommend that everyone, especially political leaders, visit the War Childhood Museum to feel empathy for all children, regardless of where they are from, their color, or their religion.