Kid's Death in Bétharram: 12-Year-Old Nicolas passes away in 1980, following a night of fever in a dormitory.
In the final weeks of February, the buzz around the infamous "Betharram scandal" is still echoing. And Nathalie, like numerous other mothers, aunties, and sisters, can't help but question the past of her brother—Nicolas, who was a student at the controversial private Catholic institution in Béarn.
With a wave of complaints for physical abuse, sexual assaults, and rapes come to light, Nathalie wonders if her 12-year-old brother, who passed away from meningitis in 1980, might have possibly been a target. Since he's no longer with us, she embarks on a quest for the truth, reaching out to victim collectives via messaging groups for testimonies.
The revelations she uncovers are unexpected and heartbreaking. For the first time, she's ready to share her story with the world through Le Monde, as long as her name and her brother's are altered for privacy. Her father, oblivious to her painstaking search for answers, is also unaware of her impending complaint against the institution for neglecting the safety of their child. Her brother's story is a stark reminder of the shocking negligence displayed by the institution, potentially even contributing to the death of a young soul.
Further investigation reveals that the 'Betharram scandal' is part of a larger problem plaguing France's educational institutions. Sexual violence allegations such as those at Betharram are not uncommon, with reports of over 150 complaints pertaining to violence and abuse surfacing in French schools. High-profile public figures like Prime Minister François Bayrou are under scrutiny for their handling of such cases, much like the controversy surrounding the parliamentary commission where he's set to testify in May 2025.
Victim support is one of the many challenges faced during these investigations, as many abuses occur during sleep, leaving only a select few with clear memories that aid the prosecution process. The need for institutional accountability is increasingly being demanded, as the Catholic Church and educational authorities come under pressure for their past failures to address or report such horrific actions.
Bracing herself for what lies ahead, Nathalie aims to bring justice to her brother's memory, contributing to the growing call for safeguarding our children from such atrocities.
- In light of Nathalie's investigation, she is reaching out to various victim collectives for testimonies about her brother Nicolas.
- The science of medicine cannot establish if Nicolas was a victim of sexual assaults, but Nathalie continues to search for answers in the context of the Betharram scandal.
- Apart from sharing her personal story with Le Monde, Nathalie is considering public platforms focused on health-and-wellness, mental-health, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth to spread awareness about the Betharram scandal.
- Nathalie's journey is a call for a focus on sexual-health in education institutions, as she uncovers evidence of the Betharram scandal being part of a larger problem in French schools.
- As Nathalie prepares to file a complaint against the institution, she also aims to advocate for better reporting and handling of such incidents to prevent future tragedies, learning from science, education, and life experiences.
- With her fearless pursuit of justice, Nathalie hopes to create a healthier, safer environment for future generations, ensuring that the Betharram scandal serves as a catalyst for change in France's educational institutions.









































