Sport and games offer a meaningful recreational activity that helps to overcome emotional injury, channel frustration and aggression, increase physical and mental well-being, and transmit important basic rules for peaceful co-existence such as teamwork and fair play. Sport and games can also be used as a vehicle for educational purposes (e.g. drug prevention and HIV/AIDS information).

The earthquake that struck the Iranian city of Bam on 26 December 2003 shattered the daily lives of survivors, destroyed social networks, and caused large-scale emotional stress and trauma. Children and young people were especially dependent on moral and psychological support. Since mid-2004, SAD has been promoting psycho-social rehabilitation processes in Bam by means of sport and game activities. The objective of these activities is to help children and young people overcome the fears and trauma they suffered on account of the earthquake.

Project objectives

• Improving the physical and mental well-being of participating children and young people.
• Transmitting basic values for peaceful and respectful co-existence, and improving social integration.
• Increasing knowledge of health-related issues.
• (Re)constructing social relations and meaningful recreational structures.
• Promoting capacity-building programmes for local coaches, and strengthening civil institutions.
• Compiling scientific data (measuring psycho-social effects of sport and games).

Project structure and activities

Nine experienced coaches led the football, volleyball, handball, table tennis, gymnastics and taekwondo activities. Held on a daily basis, these classes covered not only the specific activities themselves but also health-related topics such as drug prevention and ways of dealing with violence.

The coaches also received further training at workshops on sport education and psycho-social issues. A comprehensive monitoring and reporting system was employed to study the psycho-social effects of "Sport and Games".

Target group(s)

Children and young people in the region of Bam affected by the earthquake.

Partners

The Dietikon Vocational Training Centre, the Swiss Agency for Development an Cooperation (SDC), the Protestant Reformed (evangelisch-reformiert) Parish of St. Gallen, Holcim, Sika AG, Adidas, DHL, Nestlé Iran, the Theo Wucher Foundation, "Ready to move", the Werner and Helga Degen Foundation

Contact:

Niklaus Eggenberger
Prject Director
Tel.: +41 (0)32 344 30 53 E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Publications

Sport and Play for Traumatized Children and Youth
An assessment of a pilot-project in Bam
Valeria Kunz (2006), pdf 764KB