Mostar Photo Stories

What does peace look like in Mostar?

This photo gallery showcases personal photo stories from seven Mostar communities about everyday signs of peace and life together.

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Seeing peace in everday life through Mostarians’ eyes

Three decades after experiencing war, what do ordinary Mostarians think about peace in their city and neighborhoods?

How do they assess the quality of their life together today?

As research for the project Mostar – Spaces to Activate and Rejuvenate, Everyday Peace Indicators (EPI) worked with approximately 350 people in seven Mostar communities (mjesne zajednice) to get a detailed picture of what life together and peace is like for residents.

Using women’s, men’s and youth focus groups and community voting, EPI gathered thousands of basic, everyday indicators of peaceful life together.

Helena

“I am reading the news that Trimuša has been ceremonially illuminated… it is looking magnificent… through the trees I see Helena. So she runs again!
It seemed impossible.”

Peace indicator | Bijeli Brijeg

Ploča

“We built a beach on one section of the Neretva, enabling a swimming area for the youngest
children. We named it Ploča. Then the war came. Sounds of war have silenced Ploča’s voices.”

Peace indicator | Cernica

Regulations and Customs

“At that moment I realised that my understanding of the regulations was rather superficial; I saw it as black and white. I understood that how a Muslim man or woman looks does not reflect their spiritual
value nor their faith.”

Peace indicator | Zalik

KEY OBSERVATIONS

Mostarians were united in their desire for improving the quality of life in Mostar.

Mostarians voiced a wide variety of opinions about a peaceful life together.

Despite their many differences, Mostarians were generally opposed to a divided city

LEARN MORE ABOUT EPI’S RESEARCH