Beslan survivors look to the future
Six months after the Beslan school siege, a Swiss-funded programme is helping residents of the southern Russian town come to terms with the tragedy.
Switzerland is paying for a team of psychologists and a therapy programme, which was launched three months ago.
The Swiss project is housed in a sports centre just 100 metres away from Beslan’s School Number 1, which was seized by Chechen militants on September 3, 2004 – the first day of the new school year.
When Russian commandos stormed the building three days later a bloodbath ensued. More than 330 adults and children died and many others were injured or traumatised.
The Swiss foreign ministry is financing the rehabilitation project through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The SDC is active in the North Caucasus area, operating from an office in Vladikavkaz – 15 kilometres away from Beslan.
Still suffering
Six months after the tragedy, Beslan still bears the scars, says Peter Mikula, who heads the SDC’s Cooperation Office.
The ruined school and the more than 300 new graves in the cemetery are a lasting reminder of the tragic events of last September.
“Beslan is still suffering,” Mikula told swissinfo. “You can see people going to the cemetery almost every day. There is no way people will ever forget.”
The Swiss project aims to help survivors recover and move on through numerous activities, including art, play and sport, offered in a bright, child-friendly environment. The centre is open six days a week, and children and adults are free to come and go as they please.
Mikula says the signs are encouraging: “Since the beginning of the year, 105 people have attended these therapy [sessions], including 75 children.”
“I have just come back from Beslan and I’ve seen the children in play therapy. They like it very much, they are smiling, playing, and thinking about the future.”
Sport therapy
Mikula says two psychologists are always on hand, as well as a sports teacher. The Russian staff have their salaries paid by Switzerland, which also equipped the gym and wrestling halls in the sports complex. Wrestling, boxing and aerobics sessions are available.
Researchers at Zurich University are monitoring the Swiss-funded social therapy project to determine its effectiveness. Two experts from Zurich are due to arrive in Beslan in two weeks’ time.
“This project is unique,” said Mikula, adding that it was the first time a social therapy centre had been placed within a sports centre.
He stressed that sport was very important in the Beslan area, which has a strong tradition in competitive wrestling.
He added the Swiss experts were firm believers in the power of sport to help people cope after disasters.
“It’s not just assistance for those who were in School No.1, it’s for the whole community,” stressed Mikula.
swissinfo, Morven McLean
In the aftermath of the Beslan siege, Switzerland released SFr300,000 ($239,000) in aid.
Two Swiss surgeons were dispatched to help the injured.
Switzerland has also set up a rehabilitation centre, to offer sport and other forms of therapy to the people of Beslan.
The project is scheduled to run for two years.
Twenty schoolchildren and two teachers who were among the Beslan hostages arrived in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The fourth-formers are to spend three months in Nyon, near Geneva, staying with local families and attending special classes.
Besides keeping abreast of their Russian curriculum, they will also receive special French courses for the duration of their stay.
The programme is aimed at helping the children begin studying again.
Local sponsors are funding the programme.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.