An African studies programme for children which was axed by the Ministry of Education five years ago is making an independent comeback this summer.

Ashay: Rites of Passage, created by award-winning poet Mwalimu [master teacher] Melodye Micere Van Putten, will be taught at four summer camps across the Island.

Mwalimu Van Putten told The Royal Gazette that the relaunch of the character education programme, under the banner of Ashay Clubs, was “very, very exciting”.

“It was very sad for the children when it ended,” she said. “For me, personally and professionally, it was, of course, disappointing. For a little while, I moved back home [to the US]. I ended up staying in the States writing poetry books.”

Mwalimu Van Putten, who was named a rising star by Time magazine in 1989, has won awards for her poetry and has lectured in universities and consulted to US school districts on the teaching of African culture and history.

Ashay was introduced to several public schools in Bermuda in 2004, including Dellwood Middle School, where it became headline news when a local businessman complained that it was racist.

To the dismay of many Dellwood parents, the Ministry of Education axed the programme in 2009 as the result of a “budget reduction exercise” and it has never been reintroduced.

Mwalimu Van Putten said: “Unfortunately, though cleared of all accusations, and having the support of faculty, students and parents, the damage had already been done. Since that time, much has occurred and the clamour for the programme’s return has been a consistent one, especially with the escalation of antisocial behavior by gangs and others.”

She founded Ashay University last year and began teaching a version of the Ashay programme to adults at the National Library. That led to requests for a similar scheme for children.

“I decided that if people really wanted it, I would relaunch the Ashay programme. This is totally independent. I am currently in the last week of a month-long training programme of 13 educators who will reintroduce the Ashay curriculum within summer camp programmes they administer.”

The programme will be officially launched with an two-hour opening session at Cathedral Hall in Hamilton on Wednesday, July 2 at 10am.

For more information on the summer camps, e-mail melodyevanputten@aol.com or call 296-8137.