Sezam was the first local non-governmental, non-profit organization in Zenica. It grew out of a program coordinated by the International Medical Corps (IMC) to document the war trauma of refugee children. When the IMC ended their program in 1995, four Bosnian women who had been trained in that program decided there was still a dire need to help the children they had encountered. In February of 1995, they registered Sezam as a local NGO. The staff now consists of about fifteen members, lead by co-founder Venira Alihodzic and Larisa Kasumagic.

The word "sezam," translated as "open sesame" in English, was taken from the fairy tale Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. In the story, "sezam" was the word that allowed Ali Baba to unlock the cave and find treasure. In the same manner, Sezam aims to unlock childrens' hearts and minds.

Since 1995, Sezam has provided psychological support and educational programs for more than 1,500 children in and around Zenica. Workshops for teenagers and elementary school teachers have been added over the years.

Sezam does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, religion, class, or political opinion. Its main goal is to help individuals, especially children, handle difficult situations and reduce psychological trauma resulting from the war. Sezam creates a warm, safe and secure environment where children, teenagers, and adults can play and talk, share their difficult memories and lingering fears, and explore their thoughts and emotions.