JONATHAN CLIPPER

Successful, white and male — Jonathan Clipper is not your typical Mirrors volunteer — in fact that combination of demographics puts him in a minority of one.

But he is utterly confident he can make a difference and he expresses some frustration that only certain sections of the population are stepping up to become mentors.

"One of the things which disturbs me is the affluent, middle class Bermuda is generally not represented — I mean the smug people who have arrived, who have 'made it'.

"People who are bellyaching about 'yoof' — you can't do that if you are not going to do something."

Mr. Clipper, who runs a management business, after a long career in offshore banking which has taken him to London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Edinburgh, said the key was in the commitment — in not breaking promises.

"I can be sincere and well-meaning but make a thousand excuses. These young people are committing to altering their lives and we are committing to be there to coach them in that process.

"The technique is to instill in these people the realisation that 'you are what you say you are'. These young people have very low self-esteem and don't give a stuff about what they say they are."

Trainers have a very detailed set of minor rules which youngsters have to obey during the seven day residential component such as wearing name tags.

The theory is that getting compliance will get those in the programme to live up to their promises in much more important situations, said Mr. Clipper, — such as 'I am not going to steal, I am not going to be abusive.'

"This is a boot camp, it's physical, it's tough, it's 18-hour days to get this commitment instilled in them that this is what they want to do and we are there on the other side as mirrors to match that commitment."

The volunteers join in the last two days of the residential programme which lasts a week for the youngsters.

He said by the time volunteers arrived the youths would have been expertly handled by people used to dealing with violence, aggression and anti-social behaviour.

"There are experts who have done this for 20 years — worked with prison inmates in disadvantaged parts of the world — Kosovo. They know what they are doing."

And Mr. Clipper has a good idea of what he is doing having been a mentor for years.

"It's hugely personally rewarding. You can't sit on the fence these days.

"I have an eight-year-old mentee at West Pembroke Primary School — I look forward to seeing him every Friday lunchtime. It's the fact that I am there for him.

"If I can, through the skills I learn on the Mirrors programme, coach an alienated youth to become a productive member of society that's it! I can't think of anything more rewarding."

He has also coached a teen at Dellwood and will face some of the same challenges with the Mirrors.

"It is not a slam dunk. I have to establish that rapport, it is not something I am at all concerned about because I know I will.

"The only person he may have come into contact with who are white may have been Policemen or the judiciary. It is terrible to say.

"It is not something that bothers me but it is a challenge we have to face in the first couple of months. I know I will overcome it just because I have got that commitment.

"Once you have got that and you are in touch with that young person the sky is the limit because there is so much opportunity here.

"This is taking 35 of Bermuda's alienated youth and hoping to turn them around. I won't say it is a drop in the ocean but it is a start. If it works I am sure it will be repeated."

LORNA McGOWAN

Reforming Bermuda's wayward youth — it's a job that everyone wants done, but few are willing to help do.

But for some of the volunteers in the Mirrors Programme helping transform a life is a reward in itself,

For Lorna McGowan, who has already mentored younger children via YouthNet at Purvis, the knack is to build up trust by being open and honest and making yourself available.

"It's a matter of showing the person that you care for them and you are not going to judge them."

It all takes time. "There will be an element of resistance because we are new, getting to know them — it's the same in any relationship." But she also noted that by signing up the youngsters were reaching out for help.

She has just spent a foundational weekend with Mirrors trainers. "There was a lot of retraining our thinking — showing we too will also go through a metamorphosis.

"It's about not looking at things from a negative standpoint but talking in a positive way, talking about the future and not limiting yourself to what your world is right now. There are endless possibilities."

Those in the programme, aged 15-18, are referred by schools and social services.

She will have to make contact with her mentee at least three times a week — once in person. But for the self-employed businesswoman that is not a problem as she describes herself has someone who has been fortunate in life who wants to give back.

Once a month, time will be spent with trainers and children going over areas needed for improvement.

Ms McGowan, originally from Birmingham, England, she said it was possible the youngster she would encounter would remain in her life in some form after the nine-month programme.

"I look at the other young people I mentored six or seven years ago and even though it was for a short time we are still very close.

"It is not a matter of when the nine-month period is over then its goodbye. I am very positive it will be a life-long friendship.

"What I have realised through my mentoring you actually don't see the results straight away because it is a process that person has to go through," said Ms McGowan has a background as a business trainer where she has plenty of experience in teaching self development.

"Over time the friendship is developed and it is a bond that can never be broken. And even though you may not see the individual frequently when you do interact again it's like you saw them the day before."

Those tempted to get involved might wonder where it will all end. But she said there was nothing to worry about as are strict guidelines with only time expected from mentors — not money. Boundaries are set from the start to avoid mentees getting too clingy.

And while some might be looking for excuses to not help out, Ms McGowan, said the consequences of doing nothing were worse for society with murders, violence and gangs.

While the programme will start with youth it could also apply to prisoners if it was later expanded, believes Ms McGowan.

She hopes when her mentee changes that youngster's success can start a ripple effect on pals back in their neighbourhood.

"They are going to want to tell other people of the positive effects."

Anyone interested in helping Mirrors should call 294 9291 or email mirrors[AT]gov.bm.