Rita Plotnikova and Medea Mitrophanova
Galina Rassolov, Director of Moscow School No.1 did not expect the call from the Red Cross. It explained to her that a 'lesson of friendship' was planned for her school, which included presentations from the Red Cross and from School No.1 in Beslan, as well as the presentation of a book written by a boy who perished during the siege in School No.1 in Beslan in September 2004. Galina decided to do her best to help organize the event.
It was an unusual lesson for 11- and 12-year-olds sitting in the Moscow school assembly hall. “The two hours we spent with the Red Cross workers became a very important event in our school life,” said Galina. “Through information about Red Cross and Red Crescent history the children learned the simple principles of humanity that are often forgotten in our modern life. Through the life story of a ten-year-old boy, who perished in the fire of a terrorist attack, they were taught how to be compassionate and how to cherish friendship.”
‘Timoshka’s stories’ were composed by Timur Tedtov, an 11-year-old boy from Beslan, North Ossetia. He was a kind, loving, clever and talented boy. Since his early childhood, Timur’s parents encouraged him to tell and write stories. But Timur never saw his first book published. His mother dedicated the printing to all the children who were killed in the tragedy.
Published last summer in Vladikavkaz, the book was distributed to the children of Beslan on the first anniversary of the tragedy. Victoria Tedtova decided to send a parcel of books to a Moscow school. “Read this book and let it help you build a kind, beautiful and peaceful world around you where there is no place for tragedies like the one we had in Beslan or in other parts of the planet,” she wrote in her letter to the Moscow children.
Russian Red Cross Society workers, who have been carrying out the psychosocial support programme in Beslan since April 2005, brought Victoria’s plan to life. Their visit to Moscow School No.1 became an exciting event for the children. The young Muscovites had a chance to hear and see how the Red Cross works in Russia and around the world, and they also learned that they could participate in the Red Cross psychosocial support programme as volunteers.
They started work immediately. They made colourful drawings and wrote letters of support to Beslan. "We hope you can find the strength not to look back. It is necessary to go on and to trust people. Believe in love and in good will," they wrote. “The sun shines for all of us. I hope it makes your life bright and warm”; “Come and be our guests in Moscow!”; “Let’s keep in touch”, the messages read.
A week later, handmade presents and drawings were added to the parcel addressed to the schoolchildren in Beslan and to Timur’s family. With funding provided by parents for a trip to Beslan, the school council appointed the director, Galina Rassolova, as 'ambassador' to deliver the parcel in person and conduct a second lesson of friendship, with the Red Cross in Beslan.
Galina arrived in Beslan on the day of Russian Red Cross day celebrations in May. “As a representative of an older generation I am happy to see that the Red Cross in Russia is active and it can influence our life in a very positive way,” she said, addressing a big gathering of people in downtown Beslan where the town was celebrating. "We are with you, we are together!" she said, "let this bridge, started in Moscow one month ago, grow into friendship between our children and our cities!"
The next Monday morning it was the turn of Timur Tedtov's schoolmates to gather for an unusual lesson, conducted by Galina, her colleagues from Beslan school and by Aza Tedtova, Timur’s grandmother. Timur's mother also took part in the meeting. Shakhlo Hasanova and Natasha Sharif, the representatives from the International Federation, conducted a quiz on the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. "We were amazed,” remarked Shakhlo, “how much the children knew about the Red Cross!”
Then letters from Moscow were handed over to the children and most of them were read aloud, everyone wanted to listen and then many wanted to write back.
Aza Tedtova started telling the children a new story that was not included in the book and suggested that they should think of an ending. Galina promised to do the same in Moscow. A Red Cross reward will be given to the child who thinks of the best ending at the beginning of the next school year.
"We were impressed how attentive the children were in both cities,” noted Shakhlo Hasanova who was present at both events. “These lessons revealed the need not only for support, but were also an opportunity to express views, to show and to feel trust. Actions like these should be held in all Russian cities,” she said.
The lessons of friendship have enlarged the scope of the Russian Red Cross rehabilitation programme in Beslan, which includes community events designed to help restore some normality to life after the tragedy. More than 2,000 people participated in family meetings, art and sports competitions, family tea parties and improvized concerts. “These events involve the people affected by the crisis in social life,” says Slava Otchyk, the Federation’s psychosocial consultant. “Such activities bring them back to life and help to restore their resilience and the social ties disrupted by the tragedy two years ago. The complex and long-term approach of the programme covers many aspects of community life that are not covered by state or other services,” he added.