Strength Through Our Struggle -- Rebuilding Our Community (ROC) It is under the above banner that ROC, an organisation of young people hailing from the back of town area, are trying to achieve a more harmonious link between those that have been labelled as outcasts and the rest of society.

Founded three years ago by twin brothers Dwayne and Wayne Caines, along with longtime friend Lou Matthews, ROC are currently using the platform of sport as one method of bridging the gap.

To that end the ROC Six-A-Side Soccer Classic, now in its third year, has proven successful in uniting white collar, blue collar and the so-called `bad boys' under a shared setting where all can interact and combine toward achieving a common goal.

On any given day the community tournament, which was designed to cater to the central Pembroke area, attracts more than 400 spectators and 12 teams to the cozy confines of Victor Scott School, where they can cheer on their neighbourhood representatives in wholesome activity.

Indeed, this is no ordinary kick in the grass and ROC is no ordinary organisation. Both are purposeful by design.

"ROC is an organisation that has been around for three years now and was founded with a concept of establishing a relationship between outside entities -- ie. the Police, Government -- and people that are members of the community of Pembroke central,'' said Dwayne Caines, vice-president of ROC.

"One way we found out we could foster a relationship with young men that are alienated by society was to have a football tournament and what we did in the first year was get six teams from the neighbourhood of central Pembroke -- like the Curve, White Wall, Happy Valley, Deep Dale -- and since then every year we've added to the level in terms of people that are involved.

"However, what is interesting about the tournament is that during the times when it is being played you can go to these areas that have been labelled problem areas -- Curve, Court Street, 42nd, Happy Valley -- and no one is on the street, but if you come down to the field this is where these gentlemen are, they're watching their neighbourhood team playing.

"And, at ROC, we're trying to show the Government, the Police force, society that if you give young people something to do it is possible to curb the violence and get these young men off the street.'' Caines stressed the environment presented as one that is non-judgmental, promoting equality among all sectors, with soccer as its calling card and stage for all to show off their talent.

It is hoped that disenfranchised youth from the area will see ROC as an avenue to have their voices heard in and beyond community boundaries.

For, according to the group, most are not bad at all, they simply need to be allowed the opportunity and they can flourish within the context of so called `normal' society.

"Establishments give these guys labels, but when I go down to the field I see individuals that I grew up with and I see human beings and therefore I have a natural bond because I have not labelled them as a White Wall Crew or a Ghetto Crew, but see them as individuals that have an opportunity to make an impact on Bermudian society,'' added Caines, who formerly hosted the television programme Youth Talk .

"So what it gives us an opportunity to do is not look at these guys as `bad boys' but as individuals that can contribute by virtue of their willingness to give to the tournament.

"One young man has shown so much promise that ROC has helped him get a job and is on a mission to have him enrolled in a school in the West Indies to pursue his trade and this has all stemmed from the tournament and ROC taking a keen interest in these young men.'' Aside from the soccer tournament, ROC previously held successful negotiations with then Health and Social Services Minister, Quinton Edness, regarding proposed rent hikes for tenants of the Fenton's Drive housing projects.

And they are also determined to have an area playground that was recently closed, reopened, so that area children will again have somewhere to release excess energy.

The overall goal is unity and Caines and his cohorts are determined to achieve just that.

"Where there's a strong family there's a strong neighbourhood. Where there's a strong neighbourhood, there's a strong community. Where there's a strong community there's a strong country and it goes on...'' Photos By Arthur Bean OUT OF MY WAY -- George James of Deep Dale (right) forces his way past Cedar Park's Shelton Baker during the ROC Six-A-Side Soccer Classic.

BELOW -- Jahmarley Samuels of The Family (far right) tangles with Paul Simmons of Good Horses while Wali Salaam (far left) closes in.