Smajo Beso shares his journey as a survivor of the Bosnian genocide and his experience as a refugee in the UK. He highlights the impact of war on his childhood and the misconceptions and Islamophobia surrounding the conflict. Smajo emphasizes the importance of education and understanding the truth about what happened in Bosnia. 

He also discusses the role of religion in the conflict and the need for consistency in identifying perpetrators based on their religious affiliation. Smajo Beso shares his personal experiences of the Bosnian genocide and the importance of personalizing history. 

He emphasizes the power of personal stories in humanizing and understanding the impact of genocide. Smajo discusses the creation of the Bosnia Genocide Educational Trust and its mission to record and share stories, educate about prejudice and discrimination, and promote peace. He reflects on the significance of receiving an OBE for his work and the support he received from the community. Smajo encourages individuals to get involved and make a difference by organizing events, inviting speakers, and utilizing educational resources. 

The conversation with Smajo covers the work of the Bosnian Genocide Education Trust in commemorating and researching the Bosnian community in the North East of England. It also discusses the challenges of interviewing community members and the importance of archiving their stories. The trust relies on donations and fundraising to support its activities. The personal account shared by Smajo Beso is both harrowing and inspiring, highlighting the impact of sharing personal stories and taking action.

Check out the video version on the YouTube Channel here:
https://youtube.com/@SparksUnboxedPodcast