the business world.

The organisation is holding a corporate luncheon today at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to promote more interaction with Bermuda's business community. Dr.

Susan Weinberger, executive director of Connecticut-based Norwalk Mentor Programme, will speak about promoting mentoring relationships.

Dr. Weinberger is the author of The Mentor Handbook, and How To Start A Mentoring Programme. She arrived in Bermuda yesterday and leaves tomorrow.

While here she is making presentations to the business community, other youth-focused charities and the Department of Education about the benefits of encouraging mentoring programmes.

YouthNet's financial officer Pio Monteiro said the organisation has already received support from Ernst & Young, the ACE Foundation and the XL Foundation.

The organisation is hoping to expand its corporate support base to include other local and exempt companies. YouthNet's mentor programme matches students in the school system with adults who serve as positive role models. School official recommend students who participate in the programme as volunteers.

Mentors commit themselves for a full academic year, spending an hour a week with their students.