The assistant coordinator for the Mirrors Programme of Bermuda, Tory Darrell, spoke to Hamilton Rotarians this week on the history, progress and projected future of the programme.

In 2007, the Ministry of Social Rehabilitation launched the intervention-based programme for at-risk young people.

The target population was for people between the ages of 15 to 18, who were on the verge of falling through the cracks and who were already known to the helping professions, employment services or the criminal justice system.

Mr. Darrell said: "We partnered with Uncommon Results Inc. that has a very unique methodology which has evolved over many years, in many diverse communities, and has proven effective for making a difference with even the most disenfranchised, alienated, and troubled members of a community.

"Their approach is ontological, not psychological, not sociological, or not even therapeutic. It is about how people relate to themselves and other people; how they interpret reality; how their interpretations create their reality and shape their actions and inactions."

Mirrors works with groups of 35 young adults for six days in a residential setting looking at altering their behaviour, attitude and actions in a positive way.

"We accomplish in six days, what other programmes, using psychological methods would take months or years to produce. The programme we deliver, in partnership with Uncommon Results is sustaining, effective, impactful and cost efficient. One can look at the welcome home ceremony and see the changes in posture and attitudes as the young adults begin to stand in choice and responsibility," said Mr. Darrell.

In 2007, 36 young adults entered the programme and 33 completed it and of the 33, all are taking part in the nine months of 'follow through', where they are partnered with a volunteer who is trained as a life coach to support the young adults to accomplish their goals.

They commit to three contacts per week, one in person and the other two are through email, text or telephone.

Mirrors also partners with other programmes in Bermuda: five young people are participating in the Raleigh International expedition, one has been engaged with Labour and Training and completed his GED, four are being supported to obtain their GED, one has successfully completed his probation term and three are still active without re-offending to date.

Mr. Darrell said: "Mirrors is a volunteer intensive programme as it takes a group of volunteers to enrol youth for ten weeks before the residential, another group of volunteers to create a supportive environment within the residential component and then the third team of volunteers to support the youth during the nine-month follow through phase."

To date, Mirrors has had over 180 volunteers supporting the programme.

He added: "The volunteers have a powerful experience. They are the heart and soul of building bridges to success. Ghandi once said that you should 'be the change you want to see in the world'. I believe that through the volunteers' willingness to support and commit to our youth, they have demonstrated a desire to be this change.

"I would also appeal to employers to play their part in ensuring the Mirrors programme is a continued success. You can do this by allowing employees volunteering for the programme time off from work to participate.

"To do so is to embrace this Government's commitment to public/private partnerships to empower all citizens of Bermuda to participate in our successful economy."

Mirrors is preparing a programme for a new target age group of 18 — 21-year-olds in November of this year.

"We are looking for grass roots individuals to work with us to engage this target age population," said Mr. Darrell. "It is new terrain for us, but one that we will embrace, as we believe in endless possibilities and opportunities. In looking forward, Mirrors is preparing to work with the prison population and to expand our work in the schools."

Tory Darrell, who is a martial arts instructor, has also served five years as a Police officer in the Bermuda Police Service and as a Traffic Officer with the Transport Control Department for seven years.

He has been a member of the board of directors for several international organisations, including the International Board Transport Regulator and Self Defence Systems International.

In 2007, Mr. Darrel worked with Todd and Associates, the Project Management Company responsible for the start up of the Mirrors programme. He views his work in the community as his mission in life.