the CHILD within
In the aftermath of the Kosovar war, early 2000 I left my safe home to work with war-traumatized children in Kosovo. This impactful experience always stayed with me over the years. Today those children are in their late twenties early thirties, the same age I had back then. Some of them might even have children of their own. What happened to the children I worked with twenty-five years ago? The documentory The Child Within tells about the resiliance to the echoes of the war.
Mërgime Shala
Sometimes in life we return to childhood memories. Not to stay, but to see where and how everything begins.
Viktor Selitaj
My father just made us believe that the gunshots were part of the exciting stories he told us, while hiding in the shelter.
Glyla & Martin Ukaj
Our mother has always encouraged us to keep our heads up and walk through the fields to go to school.
Jeton Zulfaj
Once you face death and the probability of that you are going to die, you just overcome fear. That is something inevatable. And I am not afraid of it.
Pren Balaj & Mirash Zefaj
During the day we worked in the school. During the night we were in the war.
In the early 2000s, in the aftermath of the Kosovar war, I left the safety of my home to work with war-traumatized children in Kosovo. Their stories, their resiliance, and the deep scars of war left an indelible mark on me. Even after all these years, I often find myself wondering—what became of them?
Today, those children are in their late twenties or early thirties—the same age I was when I worked with them. Some may have families of their own, carrying both the weight of the past and the hopes of a new generation. The Child Within is a journey to reconnect, to uncover how the echoes of war shape lives long after the conflict has ended.
This documentary is not just about the past; it is about resilience, healing, and the power of memory. Through intimate encounters and personal narratives, The Child Within explores how childhood trauma lingers beneath the surface, yet also how the human spirit finds ways to move forward.
As a filmmaker, this project is deeply personal. It is a reflection on the enduring impact of war- not only on those who lived through it but on those who carry its legacy. My hope is that this film will spark conversations about the unseen scars and resiliance to the echoes of war.
Femke Bakker
Let’s do it. We are alive!
V. Shehu
About Us
The Child Within is created by a small team, with big hearts for the work with children and their shared wish to capture their story of resilience.
Femke Bakker, director/initiator
Riska Wijgergangs, assistant production
Visar Shehu, assistant production
Bleron Llugiqi, camera
Linda Roebers, editor
Paul Godschalk, animation
Anonymous, color grade & sound
Illir Bajri, music
Get In Touch
- fembakker@gmail.com
- (+31) 611290965
Femke Bakker, founder of Wereld Delen Producties, is an engaged and energetic initiator, producer & director. She has a strong sense of intercultural relations and is committed to making a social impact. Femke has over twenty-five years of work experience, including internationally in Puerto Rico, Kosovo, Suriname, and Romania. The Child Within is Femke’s first documentory film.
Registation & Bank no.
KvK 88658503
NL89 ASNB 8844 6553 06
The Child Within 