Not sure how to positively impact the lives of young people today?It starts by changing the attitudes and behaviours of one student at a time believes a transformative, pro-kindness programme called Chain Reaction.Close to 900 local students and 150 adults from CedarBridge Academy, the Berkeley Institute and Whitney and Dellwood Middle Schools recently took part in a powerful and engaging full-day assembly.Its purpose was to stomp out bullying, teasing, gossiping and judging others and teach young people how to reach for help, value and empathise with others and gain a hopeful outlook on life.The programme actually worked to change the environment within the schools, its participants believe.It also caused students to be more careful about what they say and how they act towards each other.Students who took part were seen as being more empathetic; a few even reported to have made new friends.CedarBridge principal Kalmar Richards said there was initially a quieter, calmer school environment after the intensive six-hour assembly. She said the programme signalled “the beginning of the healing process for many of our students”.Chain Reaction was inspired by the life of Rachel Joy Scott, an American teenager killed in the horrific Columbine High School shooting in 1999.Her family set up Rachel's Challenge in her honour. Aimed at preventing teen violence in the US, it grew into a nationwide school outreach programme and has since been implemented in 100,000 schools worldwide.The local version of the programme has been spearheaded by Pastor Gary Simons and Mary Samuels of The Cornerstone Foundation.Scores of students have taken action to promote kindness in the school environment as a result. Last year they wrote letters of appreciation to bus drivers thanking them for their service, passed out positive notes to their peers and washed their teachers’ cars.Ms Samuels described the assemblies at the local middle and high schools as “powerful” and said they made a positive impact on both students and teachers.“Students realised they are not alone in many of their struggles and many teachers and adults expressed a deeper understanding and empathy for their student population,” she said.One middle school student who had intentionally been teasing and bullying another child at his school was moved to publicly apologise to the victim at the assembly.Pastor Josh Samuels, who served as an adult facilitator, said the initiative helped students realise they are not alone in their struggles and challenges.“With a sense of both surprise and a bit of relief, students discovered that many others have experienced hurt from bullying, or have contemplated suicide, or are currently living in difficult family situations,” Mr Samuels said.“Through periods of real and honest sharing, in just a few hours together over one day, students who barely knew each other previously, began to feel and show real empathy towards their fellow classmates.”Chain Reaction coordinator Sarah Doughty said the day started off with basic games and group exercises to get students more familiar with one another. But as time progressed barriers were broken down and students began to feel safe enough to share their struggles.“At the end of the programme students are challenged to take off the ‘masks’ that they wear and to be real with one another in the cross-the-line activity,” she said. “This helps students to build empathy for one another as they realise that some of their fellow schoolmates are struggling with some very real issues.”But it wasn’t just the students who left the assembly changed.Linda and Peter Adderley volunteered to serve as adult facilitators after finding out the programme was short on staff. Both were so touched by the assembly, they have decided to become regular mentors to the young people on a weekly basis.Mrs Adderley said: “I knew that there was going to be a lot of students [taking part] and we had to give 110 percent of ourselves if we wanted to see a real positive change.“What surprised me the most was how many young students were raised without a father. Their pain and tears were real. They wanted someone to listen to them and wanted to feel loved.“The other thing that surprised me was the large amount of students who had family members in prison.”She said she used to feel “discouraged” when she saw young children acting out in the community. The assembly showed her that many of these young people are living with real pain — some are suffering from a lack of parental support and a few are fearful of being alone.Immediately after the assemblies, students were asked to complete a questionnaire, take part in a one-on-one interview and had the opportunity to be paired up with an adult mentor. On-going support will be provided to students throughout the year.Useful website: www.chainreactionbermuda.org