AFTER years of seeing community pride eroded by drugs and poverty, residents of the St. Monica's Mission area are getting the chance they have been seeking to renew and redevelop the neighbourhood.

The North Village Community Trust has developed a business plan which details the strategies and resources required to rejuvenate the area, and to give back to the people of the neighbourhood the quality of life they once enjoyed.

The Trust, the brainchild of the Reverend John Skinner, former pastor of St. Monica's Mission who recently moved to Turkey to assist in similar community-oriented work there, plans to spend more than $300,000 in a three-phase initiative funded by private donations and by Government.

Major Kenneth Dill, Assistant Cabinet Secretary and co-author with Father Skinner of the Trust business plan, paid tribute to founding supporters and stressed the importance of involving the people themselves in the process.

"First of all, I should say that I am indebted to the area MPs, Ottiwell Simmons and Nelson Bascome, who got the whole initiative started. They encouraged me to become involved and, as a result, I became president of the St. Monica's Action Group, which evolved into the North Village Community Trust. Now, I am encouraging younger people to become involved so that the flame that has been lit continues to re-ignite that entire community.

"The whole idea is to ensure that the residents in that area have a sense of security, that a new element is brought to that community and that we infuse a new sense of hope. It is key to the success of the project that people in the community take 'ownership' of the project, and we are encouraged by the number of residents who are involved, and who are part of the decision-making process.

"We realise that Government cannot do it alone, and therefore we are very grateful that business people, who at this point wish to remain anonymous, have come forward to assist us in the fund-raising process, and ensure that we have a partnership between Government and the private sector, which is key to the success of the project. It must have the full participation of the residents, Government, and the private sector fund-raisers. "

A Bermudian businessman actively involved in the fund-raising process confirmed a preference for anonymity and stressed the importance of the people of the St. Monica's road community to the ultimate success of the project.

"The key in this is that local people are showing initiative and doing something for themselves. We are only coming in to help them. I am putting out a fund-raising brochure to a number of people, because it is quite apparent that we will need money not just for this year, but continuing support.

"That support will encourage positive youth activities and help with technological education, and help drive away the people who have made life a misery for the good people of the area who just want to improve their neighbourhood and their children's prospects. The Premier (Alex Scott) is very much behind this, and the Government has already provided significant support."

The businessman wanted to keep the spotlight on the people of the neighbourhood, who have been a driving force in the project, but did give credit to the crucial role played by Father Skinner.

"The (Anglican) Church decided it needed a full-time priest in St. Monica's and we were very fortunate to get Reverend Skinner, who is a very dedicated man, and did enormously good work.

"He was the catalyst for the North Village Trust, which goes to the heart of the needs of the community, although the Church has already put $250,000 into renovating the St. Monica's church hall, which will be the focal point of many of the activities."

In the first phase, which involves the enhancement of St. Monica's Road and the development of St. Monica's Park, labour for landscaping will be provided by the unemployed young men who spend most of their time on the street.

The planners point out that this is a proven strategy, here and elsewhere, and was demonstrated during the renovation of the Mission itself, which led one man to full-time work. Habitat for Humanity will provide advice and assistance to local homeowners whose houses were damaged by Hurricane Fabian and still await repair.

Nicknamed "42nd Street", St. Monica's Road has been a main drug distribution site for more than 20 years. Despite regular raids by the police, drug dealers have openly sold their illicit products from the gates of the Mission, and this contemptuous disdain for the rules became a symbol of social defiance.

One of Bermuda's most densely populated areas, and one of the island's most drug and crime-ridden communities, it houses a high percentage of single mothers with young children.

Over the past 20 years, many organisations from outside the community have attempted to eradicate area drug problems and concomitant social dysfunctions, without notable success. That is why the architects of this plan are adamant that this be a community project supervised by an agent of the North Village executive.

Major Dill believes that a relatively small amount of capital is required to change the patterns of activity on the street.The St. Monica's Road Enhancement Plan envisages spending more than $50,000 on providing adequate and vandal-proof street lighting, including consultation on the use of concealed surveillance cameras, landscaping and the planting of trees, assistance with house repair and painting, garden maintenance, and speed control bumps and signs.

This part of the project would be completed in three months with ongoing maintenance provided by the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing. The second part of this phase will see the development of St. Monica's Park, including a children's activity adventure playground, a young people's fitness playground, a cycle and running track, and a playing field for organised community games.

A derelict parcel of land on St. Monica's Road was purchased for $90,000 by Government, which had the property surveyed, financed the contracting of a landscape architect, and has committed to developing the park.

The residents of the area identified the need for a park that would cater to the needs of young people and, under the auspices of the Trust, met with the landscape architect and had input in the development of the park plan.

Given that there were no designated playground facilities, children would play or ride bicycles in the street, in full view of drug dealing and occasional outbreaks of violence, and in danger from speeding cars. Although Government has bought the land and will finance construction of the park, the Trust will raise more than $50,000 to buy an adventure playground and ancillary equipment, a fitness course, and a traditional playground.

Some $50,000 more will be needed to provide fencing and a security gate, and seating and benches. Rigorous measures, including 'zero-tolerance' policing, will be taken to ensure the security of the Park and that it be a 'drug-free' zone.

A local contractor will carry out the installation, with the assistance of unemployed young adults, and ongoing maintenance will be sought from Works & Engineering. Again, an agent of the Trust will supervise the project, which is expected to take six months to complete.

The second phase of the plan will focus on additional educational needs and will incorporate an After School Programme, GED Adult Education, and IT training. The After School Programme will be headquartered in the refurbished church hall, and donations of more than $50,000 will be needed to provide the appropriate facilities, contribute to the hall refurbishment and provide for supervision and monitoring. It is anticipated that some 30 children will take part in the After School Programme, and they will have the use of a pool table, table tennis tables, sofas, a flat screen television, a music centre and four computers.

Beyond This, an alternative school, intends to expand its GED (equivalent high-school graduation) studies to summer programmes and St. Monica's Mission will provide the facility.

The plan for IT training reflects the reality that most career opportunities are dependent on computer skills, and that there are adults and younger people who have little or no access to computers. It is expected that 40 children and 18 adults can be helped by this programme.

Local businesses will be asked to offer seconded personnel and volunteers to assist with non-fee- paying courses. Transact, a local Internet provider, has agreed to provide all of the necessary equipment at cost, provide a free firewall and free systems support, and provide free Internet access. However, the Trust will seek donations of $95,000 to construct the IT centre, acquire 14 fully equipped stations, and pay the salary of a part-time co-ordinator for two years.

The final phase of a project, which is expected to extend over three years, will focus on community development, with an advice and counselling office being established in St. Monica's Mission, and on the development of a community activities programme. With the focus on changing the activity on the street, the Trust will continue to host open-air events and concerts, and plans a regular Friday Evening Festival during the summer, with music, food, and market stalls.

Major Dill and Father Skinner concluded the summary of their business plan by proposing that, with the support of Government, the business community and area residents, the island has an opportunity to make a significant social change in one of the most depressed communities in Bermuda. Major Dill insisted that the result would be that "bad elements" would be driven away from the area.

"That is exactly the idea. Our vision is that the St. Monica's community will become thriving and vibrant, and an example to other communities around Bermuda. As our strategic plan concluded, failure is not an option."