(CADET) programme at the Bermuda Regiment have shown that there is still light on the other side of the tunnel.

They can make contributions to the community.

That is the opinion of CADET's director Angela Fubler.

"The primary goal is to change behaviour,'' Mrs. Fubler told The Royal Gazette in a recent interview.

"There has been a significant change in the way that the students respond to situations.'' The school, which has been around for about a year, has been working with 14 students ranging in age from 13 years old to 16.

The programme was created as an alternative for students who have been classified as having the most challenging behaviours.

But Mrs. Fubler said there has been steady progress.

For now all the students have completed their Bermuda Secondary School Certificate test and are in the midst of community service programmes.

The aim of the programme is to eventually re-integrate the students into a regular school setting. Only three of the 14 are expected to return to CADET in the fall.

While in the programme, students are monitored on a number of levels.

What many people do not see, according to Mrs. Fubler, is that: "There is a person inside who is trapped''.

Coordinator of the community service aspect of the programme, Lucinda Worrell, said her biggest challenge has been to "tame the beast inside the child''.

"You have to be their family,'' she noted.

Mrs. Worrell explained that she had developed a community service programme in which the students carry out community service at many of the local rest homes.

"These kids were mopping floors, washing dishes, and painting,'' she said.

"Something that w ould have been hard to get them to do before.'' One obvious surprise for the students was "they had to use proper manners''.

Already they have helped out at Agape House, The Pembroke Rest Home, Devonshire Rest Home, Lefroy House, St. George's Rest Home, Meals on Wheels and several other local organisations.

Mrs. Worrell admitted that there was still a lot which they needed to do.

But she said the response to all the activities had been favourable, and many have extended invitations to the students to return.

One woman even offered her pool to the students whenever they wanted to have a swim.

Mrs. Worrell said the students "need a lot of love and encouragement''.

"They need to know that there are other options,'' she explained. "The community wouldn't give them a chance. People don't take the time out to talk or understand them. It's programmes like this which show them that they have something to live for.'' One other added advantage was that the community was now changing its view of the students, she added.

"There is a changed vision,'' Mrs. Fubler said.

"Support has been positive. People are actually using students.'' Mrs. Worrell also explained that for CADET's homeless project many local companies had donated the resources which they needed.

Companies like BGA, Barritt's, and individuals like Jim Butterfield all made contributions to the homeless meal project.

"This goes to show that even the most difficult person can be worked with,'' Mrs. Worrell said. "If the student shows up, then we can do something for them.''