More than 200 primary school students visited the Town of St George this week to learn about the history of enslaved people in Bermuda.

The initiative, a collaboration between the Department of Education, The Friends of St Peter’s Church, the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation and the Bermuda National Trust, was launched in 2020 as a series of “learning journeys” for public school students.

While Covid-19 restrictions initially required the programme to be offered online, this year trustees of The Friends of St Peter's Church secured funding for transportation through RenaissanceRe, enabling Primary Five students from across the island to travel to the East End.

Entitled “The Development of Slavery in Bermuda”, the event aimed to “deepen [the students’] understanding of Bermuda's complex history”.

It was held in alignment with the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, reflecting a local “commitment to highlight contributions of people of African descent worldwide and to educate young people about social justice and inclusion”.

“With Bermuda being a signatory of the UN’s sustainable development goals, and as our students learn more about Bermuda’s history and develop as world citizens, these partnerships aim to inspire them to continue local and global work to eradicate racism and intolerance, promote human rights, and assist in creating better, more prosperous communities,” explained Nekesha Holdipp, an education officer in the Department of Education.

The Bermuda National Trust held three online learning sessions for students in advance of the field trips, which took place on Monday and Tuesday. A final one is planned for today.

“The ‘learning journey’ was matched to the P5 Scheme of Work and Standards. We were able to deliver age-appropriate and thought-provoking material to give the students a fuller understanding about how people of African descent arrived in Bermuda, the use of chattel enslavement, the daily lives and experiences of enslaved people on the island, and the ways enslaved people here resisted their enslavers,” said Anna Stevenson, heritage education co-ordinator at the BNT.

“The field trip visit helps to enrich the learning, through an on-site sensory experience, and through listening to and discussion with the speakers.”

In St George the children visited St Peter’s Church, the St George’s Historical Society Museum and Pilot James Darrell Square.

Organisers described the trip as a success in engaging students through the visits to the “significant historical sites”, where they enjoyed in-depth presentations and discussions led by experts in Bermudian history and heritage.

“The Department of Education is dedicated to creating an educational environment that equips students with the knowledge, skills and perspectives necessary to navigate and contribute to a complex global society,” a spokesman said.

“Through partnerships with community organisations, the department seeks to enrich the curriculum with real-world opportunities that bring history to life and encourage students to engage critically with the world around them.”

An historical overview of St Peter’s Church highlighting its role in governance and the enactment of enslavement laws was given by the Reverend Lorne Bean, the pastor of Richard Allen AME Church.

The effort was praised by Alison Outerbridge, manager of the Friends of St Peter’s Church, who said that the programme “demonstrated the importance of [the church] as a key site for the experiential study of Bermuda history”.

“As the charity which supports the restoration, preservation and promotion of St Peter's, Bermuda's first church, we knew the challenges surrounding equitable access to this landmark,” she said.

“We are grateful for the support from RenaissanceRe, which enabled us to provide transportation for public schoolchildren across Bermuda. This funding was key to the success of this initiative, and we hope to make it an annual event.”

The students also met Maxine Esdaille, of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation, who discussed the life and legacy of King’s Pilot James “Jemmy” Darrell.

Ms Holdipp reflected on the efforts of the Reverend John Stephenson, a Methodist minister who challenged Bermuda’s segregated practices by preaching to anyone, regardless of colour.

The BNT was “delighted” to have the opportunity to partner with St Peter’s Church and the Department of Education, Ms Stevens added.

“The students were completely absorbed. One said to me, ‘It’s one thing learning about it in the classroom — it’s another thing actually seeing these places.’ We are incredibly grateful to Reverend Bean, Maxine Esdaille and Nekesha Holdipp for their time, and to Alison Outerbridge, who secured the funding for transportation. Without it, this learning experience would not have happened.”

The field trip was in keeping with a Department of Education objective “to provide educational opportunities that foster a comprehensive understanding of local and global history”. It was hoped that the experience would encourage the students who attended “to draw connections between past and present social issues”.

Commissioner of Education Kalmar Richards said: "We are delighted to support such a meaningful experience that not only educates but inspires our students. The collaboration with these community partners exemplifies our collective commitment to offering diverse and enriching educational experiences outside of the classroom."