As Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, a new initiative by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Srebrenica Memorial Centre aims to engage younger generations in a shared act of remembrance, empathy, and hope for the future.

A two-part workshop series titled “Drawn from the Heart – From Sarajevo to Srebrenica” took place on 27 and 28 May in Sarajevo and Srebrenica bringing together children from each city for a creative and symbolic exchange. During the workshop in Sarajevo, the children were joined by Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and Almasa Salihović, spokesperson of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre who underlined the importance of such engagement for younger generations. 

“These workshops in Sarajevo and Srebrenica are very special - through drawings and messages, the children of Sarajevo and Srebrenica are building connections with each other that will hopefully support new perspectives and friendships. The pictures will travel between cities, carrying messages of friendship and togetherness. While we focus on the past during the commemorations of 30 years since the genocide in Srebrenica, we are also committed to supporting initiatives that help strengthen human bonds and build a better future. By sharing pictures, the youngest members of society are showing the importance of caring for each other - no matter where they live,” noted Babajide. 

"Children from Sarajevo and Srebrenica want to know more about each other - about how they live, what they feel and how they think. This curiosity is the beginning of mutual understanding. At the same time, we have an important responsibility before us: how we tell the youngest about the experience of genocide in Srebrenica. It must be a story told with care, respect for those who listen to it. We believe that children can understand and sympathize, if they are given the space to learn through humanity, not through hatred - because it is their openness that can build the foundations of lasting peace. That's how we tell them our story," remarked Salihović.

Through guided drawing sessions, children expressed their reflections on peace, community, and remembrance. At the heart of the initiative is a simple but profound gesture: the exchange of artwork between the two communities, symbolizing dialogue, mutual recognition, and the hope for a future free of division and violence. All drawings will be compiled into a special online booklet, to be published ahead of the July 11 commemoration. This collection will serve as a lasting tribute to the power of young voices and the role of art in fostering healing and understanding.

This initiative reflects the European Union’s enduring commitment to reconciliation, peacebuilding, and education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By nurturing empathy and creativity across communities, the EU and its partners aim to build a resilient, inclusive society grounded in shared memory and mutual respect.

As the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide approaches, “Drawn from the Heart” is a timely reminder that the seeds of peace must be planted early—and that the voices of children can help shape a future defined by unity, not division. These workshops were first in line of a series of activities the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina has prepared throughout the coming period, in cooperation with partners, to commemorate the anniversary.