The Peace Education Hub (University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Philosophy), in collaboration with Pro Peace Bosnia and Herzegovina and Leiden University, organised the exhibition Picturing Scholasticide at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo (entrance hall), which was opened to the public on May 8, 2026.
Consisting of photographs documenting the unprecedented destruction of educational institutions in Gaza and snapshots of an anonymised exchange of WhatsApp text messages between a Dutch and a Palestinian scholar, with a focus on highlighting the experiences of people living through war on a daily basis, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the real stories behind war statistics. The exhibition was set up by students of the Faculty of Philosophy as part of a workshop facilitated by Muhamed Kafedžić, who introduced the students to the specific features of documentary photography and its role in the exhibition, coordinated the installation process through the direct engagement of students, and provided support for them throughout the process.
Workshop participants were addressed by the Vice Dean for Research, International Academic Cooperation and Publishing of the Faculty of Philosophy, Dr. Minka Džanko, also a member of the Peace Education Hub. She emphasized that Bosnian people, having endured war, bombardment, displacement, and loss, deeply empathize with the Palestinian people and understand the difficult process of rebuilding lives and communities from ruins. Through the Peace Education Hub, the Faculty of Philosophy has worked to promote the principle that education must remain safe and accessible to everyone, while emphasizing the importance of protecting peace and freedom. The Vice Dean also expressed sincere gratitude to the staff and students of the Faculty of Law at Leiden University for their dedication, courage, and humanity in speaking out against injustice.
Meagan Smith from Pro Peace, a German NGO with four offices in the Western Balkans and a valued partner of the Peace Education Hub, pointed out the importance of the “idea at the University of Leiden to transform the study of individual rights into active engagement”. Referring to the educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is still deeply impacted by the war, she underlined that “we are still living in the aftermath of this war, this ongoing frozen conflict which continues to impact the educational system, through not only two schools under one roof, but the curriculum in all jurisdictions, the manner of portrayal of the ‘other’ in classrooms, the recognition of some people’s pain and tragedy, while not others. (…) Education is not neutral. It never has been. What we choose to see, to name, and to remember is itself an act. Standing here, together, is proof of that.”
Professor Nadia Sonneveld from Leiden University, who is also one of the organisers of the original exhibition in Leiden set up in June 2025, addressed the participants and presented the larger context of the exhibition, which involved staff and students at Leiden University in partnership with staff and students from different universities in Gaza and the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. Apart from pointing out the importance of contributing to the social and legal understanding of the deliberate destruction of educational institutions in wartime, Professor Sonneveld shed light on the human dimension of mass destruction, with the wish to commemorate our colleagues in higher education. “What fell was not only walls, but, as a Gazan educator said, ‘the lives of professors and researchers — who carried knowledge in their hearts before they wrote it in books — were taken. And our students, who once dreamed of graduation, of advanced studies, of a dignified life, are now among the martyrs, the displaced, or the missing’ (Picturing Scholasticide.org).” Finally, she underlined that “the destruction of educational institutions is not merely collateral damage. It is an attempt to destroy identity, hope, future generations, and critical thought itself.”
Lejla Mulalić, the president of the Peace Education Hub, pointed out the mission and vision of the Hub in promoting the culture of peace in classrooms and the wider community, which resonates strongly with the story of the Picturing Scholasticide exhibition. Educational institutions should be safe spaces in which young people can envision their futures, and this exhibition should serve as a powerful reminder that war should never be normalised as a means of resolving conflict.
The role of students is closely aligned with the participatory dimension of the exhibition, which is outlined in the original project, as noted by the workshop facilitator Muhamed Kafedžić. In his words, “the students responded wonderfully, and their openness, seriousness, and curiosity made the entire process successful”. As reasons that motivated them to participate in setting up the exhibition at the Faculty of Philosophy, students mentioned empathy with people from Gaza and the need to send a message that their voices are heard; the need to participate in an activity that promotes peace; as well as the need to better understand their parents, who lived through the traumas of the war in Bosnia. They described the experience of participating in the exhibition as very emotional, but they also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the impact of war on education, as well as the opportunity to show that they do care. As one of the students observed in her post-exhibition reflection, “my favorite result of this exhibition is seeing other students standing in front of the photographs, and watching them with great feelings”.
The exhibition will be available at the Faculty of Philosophy until 22 May 2026.
More about the project at https://www.picturingscholasticide.org/