Eight CedarBridge Academy S2 students have been selected to benefit from a ground-breaking partnership with one of the Island's large international insurance companies.

The Catlin Group and the school are working together to benefit the 16-year-old students in what is hoped might become a broader programme of partnership between international companies and Bermuda's government high schools.

The students are predominantly black males. Each has entered into a "social contract" with his parents, CedarBridge and Catlin.

If the students maintain their grades, attendance and conduct records, Catlin will pay their tuition fees at Bermuda College, and contribute to further academic expenses, when the time comes. Parents, teachers and Catlin must also deliver on their responsibilities, the contract points out.

The students, who will be individually mentored by Catlin staff members, will be under no obligation to go into international business. Of the eight, only one or two have so far given much thought to insurance.

The programme was in place before recent calls were made to analyse and improve opportunities for black males in Bermuda.

"There is a chronic shortage of young Bermudians with the academic qualifications that allow them to enter our business," said Graham Pewter, chief executive officer of Catlin Bermuda.

"We asked ourselves: instead of talking on the periphery of the debate, what could we do to make a difference?

"Catlin knew that there is considerable scholarship money available for students to go to college - in fact there are more scholarships than students to take them," Mr. Pewter said.

"So we thought: what if we look at helping younger students, those from the most vulnerable section of the community, which is young black boys, and at the same time see if we can raise this veil of mystery that surrounds international business. The point of entry into our business, or the professions to which the students aspire, requires a degree.

"Therefore, their academic careers cannot stop when they leave CedarBridge. So our concept seemed like an ideal solution. Last spring, we called Mrs. (Kalmar) Richards (principal of CedarBridge), and explained our idea," Mr. Pewter said. The school and the company worked together to develop the programme.

"We're very excited," said Mrs. Richards. "We talked at length with Catlin about which year would be the best choice, and how many students might join the programme."

It was decided, for this pilot year, to select eight 'students of excellence'. For them, "the challenge will be to maintain the standards they have set as the work becomes more demanding," Mrs. Richards said.

"There are distractions at that age, and we are asking these young men to stay focused," Mr. Pewter said.

"We have talented individuals here, who don't always see how they will get to college and university," Mrs. Richards said. "This programme, and, we hope, others like it, will pave the way."

Dale Jackson, an education therapist, has been appointed the school's liaison officer for the programme. "I think this is a positive approach that more international business companies should get on board with," he said.

Mr. Jackson is not alone in his view. At a reception at Catlin's offices to formally launch the programme, students and their parents mingled with Catlin mentors.

The parents professed themselves excited about the programme and grateful that their boys had been chosen.

Mr. Pewter said: "It seemed to us that in our community, there is a danger of a polarising trend developing, where many young Bermudians develop the perception that international business is off limits to them, that the people who are employed by international firms exist in some parallel section of our society that is closed off to them. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Catlin hopes with this programme to break down such barriers, Mr. Pewter stressed to the boys that there were no limits to what they could individually achieve, but reminded them that it would require commitment and lots and lots of work.

"We are tremendously grateful to Catlin for reaching out to us," said Mrs. Richards. "They have embraced the school and the students. It's really heart-warming." Mr. Pewter was equally pleased. "I feel very strongly about the positive impression CedarBridge Academy has left on us at Catlin," he said. "Any negative perceptions about CedarBridge that are out there could not be further from the truth."