The Venturilla Foundation plans to expand its rites-of-passage programme.

The Foundation was designed to provide 13-year-old boys with the guidance needed to make them into community-based, family-oriented men.

The programme activities consist of a combination of male bonding, mentorship, education, and summertime fun.

The first year of the programme was designed to expose the boys to career and recreational opportunities.

During the first year, the boys participate in field trips to the Bermuda Biological Station, Nonsuch Island, and Cable and Wireless to expose them to career options other than the traditional fields of international business and tourism.

The success of the first year has organisers looking to expand the programme.

According to programme coordinator Craig Simmons, the institution is stronger than it was a year ago.

"We're finally on the threshold of moving into the second year,'' he said.

The projected second year intends to expand on career development by providing the boys with internship possibilities.

This, Mr. Simmons explained, included a commitment on the part of the participants to "seriously consider'' attending college.

The programme's strong emphasis on schooling and career development encouraged the boys to begin to make responsible decisions about their lives, he added.

Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Nelson Bascome, a supporter of the programme, noted that the Foundation's focus was on slow, controlled growth.

The quality of the programme was of primary importance, he emphasised.

The education at Venturilla was designed to be holistic, in an effort to address the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the boys.

In addition to standard academic subjects such as English and mathematics, the boys also learn akido, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and sailing.

Rap sessions entitled `Living the Life of a Man' have been conducted by men considered to be community role models.

Role model interaction was the aspect of Venturilla that caused acting chairperson Carol Bassett to become involved with the Foundation.

As the mother of two boys, she was concerned about the number of Bermudian youths slipping through the cracks.

"Venturilla exposes (the boys) to the positive side of Bermuda,'' she said.

"It's especially good for them to be exposed to the positive male role models in the programme, so that they can see that success is possible.'' One of the Foundation's new emphases this year will be the Island's marine environment.

"We see this as a matter of the boys defining themselves, and by extension, the space that they live in,'' explained Mr. Simmons.

"Because we are an island, the marine environment must be considered an important part of our existence.

"If we include the reef system as well as the caves beneath the Island, we begin to think of Bermuda as a much larger space to be explored. The boys will be tapping into a new frontier.'' The boys explored parts of Bermuda that had previously been considered "off-limits'' such as "spelunking'', commonly known as cave exploring.

The programme, according to Mr. Simmons, was "inexcusably Afrocentric'', but he maintained that was in no way an attempt to exclude others.

"I spent my life in Eurocentric institutions, and there is no reason why it should not be reciprocal,'' said Mr. Simmons. "Learning about other people's way of living is the true definition of multiculturalism.'' Those interested in applying for entry into the programme should contact Mr.

Simmons on 234-0946.

The Venturilla Foundation, named for the first black man to set foot on the Island, is a registered charity and donations can be sent to P.O. Box HM 2035, Hamilton HM HX.

Nelson Bascome MP