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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Laura Ingalls (laura.ingalls@worldlearning.org) in Washington, 1.202.464.6973
Tragic Loss of Experiment Adult Group Leader
BRATTLEBORO, VT (August 11, 2008) -- It is with great sadness that we report the tragic loss of Seraphin Bernard, a former Experimenter, recent Experiment Adult Group Leader, and member of the World Learning community. On July 13, while leading an outing with The Experiment in International Living South Africa program, Seraphin and several participants entered the water off the Eastern Cape Coast and were quickly caught in a strong current. While the others managed to exit the water safely, Seraphin was swept out to sea. Despite an extensive search and rescue effort by South African authorities, he has not been found and is presumed drowned.
Seraphin is remembered by all as a dedicated mentor and young community leader. While in high school in Miami, he started the Young Minds Art program, an art education and mentorship program for inner-city students. His efforts garnered him the Community Quarterback Award from Parade Magazine and the National Football League. In 2004 Seraphin received an Outbound Ambassador Scholarship and participated in the Experiment program in South Africa. That same year he was awarded the Miami Herald Silver Knight Award for area students who have both achieved academically and contributed their knowledge and talents in service to their schools and communities. A promising graphic designer, Seraphin graduated with honors in May of this year from New York’s Pratt Institute of Art and Design and returned to South Africa this summer to give back as an Experiment Adult Group Leader.
Seraphin was beloved within the World Learning community and he will be dearly missed. Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
More details on this incident are available in this official statement (PDF, 31KB) issued by World Learning on August 5. We will post any additional information of importance as we receive it.
World Learning works globally to enhance the capacity and commitment of individuals, institutions, and communities to create a more peaceful and just world through education, training and exchange programs.
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