It's all about using overseas expeditions to challenge young Bermudians to harness their potential and develop life skills, according to the head of a youth programme.

Raleigh International Bermuda executive director Kristin White called attention to her charity's successes with youth, while speaking at the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday.

The organisation, now four years old, is a part of UK-based Raleigh International.

Every year the programme sends young people between the ages of 17 to 25 to live in a developing country for around two months.

Ms. White told Rotarians: "Sometimes we as adults think that we have all of the answers and that 'we can show (young people) the way as opposed to realising a lot of times they know exactly what they need to do.

"Sometimes they just need to have the tools and the confidence to believe that they can do it and that's really what Raleigh is about — helping young people to see what they can do. Sometimes they may fear doing something, and we tell them 'once you tackle these fears there is nothing you can't do'. This is our fourth year and we've seen a lot of progress in our young people."

Nathan Roberts, a representative from Raleigh UK, on Island to assist Raleigh Bermuda, has worked with young people from all over the world.

He told the Rotary meeting: "In the UK now, we talk about things like 'helicopter parents' particularly mothers, who hover over their young people, trying to ensure they don't do the wrong thing; or they don't get involved with the wrong crowd.

"As a result, these 'helicopter' parents leave their children just hungry for adventure — desperately leading to some adventure. And so what these young people do, is go out there looking for it. And that adventure may come in the form of a mate saying 'I've got a shipment of drugs, do you want to help in doing some running?' Within Raleigh we give young people the opportunity to have positive, exciting, adventurous experiences.

Each year, normally between October and December, Raleigh begins accepting applications for its expedition the next year. For more information on Raleigh Bermuda log on to www.raleigh.bm or call 333-5678.