Workshop for Educators: What Happens after War? A Case Study on Justice and Peacebuilding in Bosnia and Herzegovina

How do countries and communities’ function in the wake of atrocities? In societies where neighbors persecuted neighbors, is there hope for peace, justice, and reconciliation? In this workshop for educators, we’ll explore these questions in a case study of events in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s, when citizens experienced war, siege, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Using maps, timelines, video clips, and other materials created by the Educator’s Institute for Human Rights (EIHR) to accompany the acclaimed book, Imagine: Reflections on Peace, teachers will leave with deeper understanding of these events, along with classroom-ready lesson plans and a copy of the book. Two of the core questions to be addressed in this workshop are: What is the role of photography in conflict and peace? How are individual stories shaped by historical events and international response in times of conflict?

Outcomes:

At the end of these lessons, teachers and their students will be able to:

• Describe the interrelatedness of historical events, individual stories, and the international response in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• Describe the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from multiple perspectives and various groups,
• Evaluate and analyze the role of photography in conflict and peace,
• Determine the unique perspectives on peace (in a post-conflict society).

This workshop will be facilitated by Kate Weckesser English (Educator's Institute for Human Rights).

Preparation for the Workshop:

Before coming to this workshop, please be sure you are familiar with the IHRA Guidelines and the USHMM Guidelines for Teaching the Holocaust, especially the Rationale and Learning Objectives. EIHR has developed the lessons we will be discussing with these resources in mind.

Additional Information:

This workshop will take place fully in-person on campus at Keene State. Breakfast, lunch, and workshop materials are provided to participants at no cost. Workshop attendees will receive a certificate of completion listing the number of professional development hours completed.

Registration:

There is no cost to attend this workshop; however, space is limited and advanced registration is required. The last day to register for this workshop (if spaces still remain) is Thursday, March 19, 2026. To learn more and register, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/4smvcxfa

This event is part of the Cohen Center calendar.