Last summer several Bermudian venturers went to Malaysia with Raleigh International Bermuda.

They became at one with the elements, but many have stated that they had the time of their lives. A year on, it is apparent how they have matured and developed by the experience.

This year more are eagerly awaiting the chance to follow the same path, but some will head to Namibia, while the others will go to Malaysia.

The announcement was made at Government House on Thursday evening and the young people are from CedarBridge Academy, Berkeley Institute, The Centre, on Angle Street, Sandy?s Community Centre, YouthNet, and the St. George?s Community Centre.

They are Berkeley Kacey Smith, Nakia Foggo, Tamika Easton, Atiya Symonds, DeShun Richardson, Alana Burchell, Terrieka Simmons, Taneah Bea, Regis Simons, Antoine Williams, Alex Dill, Terrina Nolan and Leevon Swan.

During the evening, three of last year?s venturers spoke about their experiences in Malaysia, what it meant to them and how it had changed their perspective on life and their environment.

Some are attending college, while others are looking at attending university, and a portion are now gaining valuable work experience in the community.

Governor Sir John Vereker pointed out that it was about 13 months ago, when the last and rather apprehensive venturers, were at Government House.

?What a difference a year makes?? he stated. ?I mean look at the change. We greeted each of you as you came in and we have been very struck by the success of this programme, which encourages a creed of self-belief and self-confidence in Bermuda?s young people.

?For those of you who have been you know all about it, and for those of you who are about to go you will discover more about it, and those of you who are supporting them we say a big word of thanks to you because it is a very important initiative.?

Premier Alex Scott felt the leadership potential in many of the youngsters.

Commenting on a conversation he had with one of last year?s ventures, Terrilyn Cordeiro, he said: ?If she is an example of what can happen when these young people go away for three months, I want to go to.

?It is a positive, constructive experience that does something that no book learning can do. Individuals can find out about themselves as, they learn about someone else.

?I am going to quote Terrilyn when she said that family units there are very close and they take an hour out of a day to come together, but we do it at Christmastime, Mother?s Day and Easter, but how much richer this community would be if we just learned to come together as a family?

?Those of you who are going have a lot to look forward to; you will have challenges, growth and experiences.?

Dale Butler went to visit the venturers in Borneo last summer.

?Seeing what the venturers completed was the first highlight,? he said, ?And the second was that I was really impressed with their attitude to the entire experience.

?They lived in bare and primitive circumstances and once they got rid of their cellphones and stopped calling home they adjusted well for the three months.

?Based on my evaluation of that programme that was given to the Premier and the Cabinet, the Government has decided to our sponsor six children, after sponsoring three last year.?

RIB executive director Karen Deil thanked all of the sponsors, which ranged from organisations donating huge amounts of funds, or those who gave or give what they could, and to all of the volunteers.

Vernon Simons, of The Centre, on Angle Street, summed up his experience as ?mind-blowing?.

?It really opened our eyes and it made us think not only about ourselves, but for others,? he said. ?I must say that the trip was a success and I thank all the sponsors.

?To the new venturers there are a lot of expectations out there and you really do not know what to expect, but while you are out there go with the flow.?

Former Berkeley Institute student Terrilyn Cordeiro also thanked the sponsors and read her poem entitled ?Expedition Life?.

Within the poem, she said that she discovered that she was stronger and wiser than she had previously thought.

?At the end of the expedition, they told us that we had to write a dissertation and I am a person that thinks about things before I say it and I write poetry,? said the youngster who is gaining experience in a hair salon.

?Therefore, I decided that it was the best way for me to express myself, and I wrote a little about each phase and I summed it up in five sections.?

Erin Butterfield, who now works with lawyer Victoria Pearman at Juris Law, also spoke about what the expedition meant to her. ?This was not what I would call a trip, because it wasn?t a vacation ? it was an expedition. It really put my goals in life into perspective because you?re really focused out there. Because there is nothing to distract you, no TV and no desire to go out in clubs or anything like that.

?This trip has also helped me to deal with some things that you will find in a law firm, like dealing with pressures and how to adapt to different situations.

?You do change a lot, your views on life change and you mature a lot. So I am glad that I went and I would not trade the experience for the world. It will help me when I become attorney general.?

Terrieka Simmons, of CedarBridge Academy, found out about the programme when RIB made a presentation at her school.

?I wanted to help somebody and I am quite looking forward to it,? said the student who plans to attend Bermuda College to specialise in early childhood.

Last year?s venturer, Jevon Cann, said: ?It was an experience of a lifetime. Out there they have a lot of things that we would like for the youth; whereas in Bermuda we don?t have that,? said the biology student.

Alana Burchell is looking for a different experience and was decided to apply because of her cousin Erin Butterfield?s experiences.

Videographer and GED student Alex Dill said that he was closed in a lot during his life and he wants to use this experience as a way to enhance both his life and those of others.