The Berkeley Institute's Ashley Bento (S2), Sudan Furbert, Elizabeth Blankendal, and Janae Smith (all S3) will be travelling to Lanarkshire, Scotland in the last week in September this year to represent Bermuda in the Making Sense of Our Sites Youth Summit.

The four young women won the honour as a result of their participation in "St. George's Day: Celebrating Our World Heritage", a partnership between The St. George's Foundation (TSGF) and the Ministry of Education.

The winners were selected based on their exhibit (construction, presentation and historical analysis) and oral presentation.

"This year's winning presentations were spectacular," declared Leondra Burchall, TSGF Director of Education.

The programme is a part of the UK UNESCO three-year pilot programme 'Making Sense of Our Sites' which was launched last year in Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK, (twin of St. George's, Bermuda and hometown of English adventurer Sir George Somers).

The Educator Specialist Conference was attended by Mrs. Burchall and Dr. George Cook (TSGF Education Chair), while four Berkeley Institute students (Sudan Furbert, DeAzha Chambers, Elizabeth Blankendal and Jordon Richardson) represented Bermuda at the Youth Summit.

Locally "St. George's Day: Celebrating Our World Heritage" was launched on May 25 this year at the World Heritage Centre, with East End Primary and the Berkeley Institute piloting the programme.

Students were encouraged to use various media (art, poetry, song, video, podcast, photography, drama, dance, etc.) to explore and express the history and heritage found in St. George's.

"This programme is exciting because it allows students to lend their voice to the historical record," noted Mrs. Burchall. "History is about perspective and sharing; it is not merely retelling familiar stories.

Our goal is to include multiple perspectives and present a platform for untold stories. So much is unknown, and we want students to help us discover and incorporate new interpretations."

Organisers decided to start small in the first year. In 2011 the invitation to participate in the local programme will be extended to all East End schools, two additional middle schools and CedarBridge Academy, and in 2012 it will be opened up to the entire island.

The September conference will feature a youth summit with students from all over Scotland. Bermuda's World Heritage Ambassadors will represent Bermuda and share information about our World Heritage Site, The Historic Town of St. George and its Related Fortifications.

They will take their poster exhibit and make an oral presentation during the summit, which is intended to incorporate youth voices in promoting, preserving and sustaining World Heritage Sites.