Since the CARE Learning Centre opened 19 years ago, hundreds of children and adults have passed through its doors looking to improve their academic and life skills. Instructor Neletha Butterfield talks about her greatest passion - education.

Tucked away in an inconspicuous building on Brunswick Street in Pembroke is a hive of activity and enthusiasm that goes by the name of CARE (Children and Adults Reaching for Education) Learning Centre.

It is open practically every week of the year providing either academic programmes for adults, reading basics, high school qualifications for teenagers, or after school, weekend and summer learning classes for small children.

For many people, for a variety of reasons, it has been the opportunity of a lifetime - a path to a new life. What started out as a passion for instructor Neletha Butterfield in the basement of her home in 1983, has now grown into an expanding school where parents and children repeatedly turn for help.

The Government MP is quick to support public education and the Government school system, but concedes that it is not for everyone. While some students fit into large school communities, others do not, and that is where CARE comes into play.

Students aged 15 or above who drop out or fail in public education can complete their schooling at CARE, studying for a minimum of six hours a week until they are ready to pass the General Education Development (GED) exam.

It is the high school diploma recognised in America, and is now readily accepted by employers in Bermuda.

But for those adults who just want to learn to read, brush up on their math, or acquire some computer training, CARE is also able to help. No exams attached.

"We have 20 students in the morning (for academic classes) and 20 students in the evening in each term, so we see about 120 people each year," said Ms Butterfield.

"Our groups are small, so people are able to get a lot of attention, but for those who require it, we also have a room purely for individual attention - maybe for those students who are pre-GED.

"We realise that all students are different and all are at different stages, so we assess them and then try to cater to their needs."

But there are many students who attend extra lessons at CARE's after school programme, while still attending their normal school. While some parents might treat it as any other after school programme, only with academic learning, others may send their children their who are perhaps falling behind in a particular area.

Ms Butterfield said: "We take students in our after school programme from the age of four. One boy has been coming here from St. George's after school every day since he was five.

"He comes on the bus. We used to meet him from the bus, but now he is older, he runs straight here. He is exceptionally bright and is way above his class at school. But he has had so much extra learning by coming here each day, it is no wonder. It makes sense for working parents."

And Ms Butterfield said she had another student, a young girl who still attended a Somerset school, who had been going to extra lessons at CARE since February in order to improve her math.

She has just been added to the honour roll at her school. It is success stories like these that enthuse Ms Butterfield and her staff.

She is able to reel off a number of former students who have successful careers, such as a youth counsellor, probation officer, nursing supervisor, and executive secretary, to name a few.

But whether they are teaching inmates at regular classes at Westgate prison, or students in the learning centre, she said her and her staff simply strive to make a difference to someone's life. She added: "Not all of our students can achieve what they want in a matter of months - for some it takes a long time, but that doesn't matter to us. They come here for as along as they wish and as long as it takes.

"We are dealing with some students whose academic skills are low and it takes time to build them up. But when you come here you realise that it is never too late to learn, no matter how long it takes. We have had people who have been aged over 65 and they simply want to go back to school to improve their skills. They are a great encouragement to the young people, and it's good fun."

At CARE, people are allowed to work at their own pace, and, if they fail or do not wish to gain qualifications on paper, that is okay, too.

Ms Butterfield added: "Even if we don't see any difference in their grade levels, they are much more motivated."

Student Davon Daniels, 16, from Somerset, has been at CARE since January after leaving Berkeley Institute.

He said: "I took myself out of Berkeley because I thought I was going to get caught up. I had skipped school once and I realised I was not heading the right way. "I really enjoy coming here much more than I did going to school. There are fewer temptations and I'm not so distracted.

"I will probably be coming here for another year and then I will get my GED. I want to be a mechanic and am hoping to get some experience as an apprentice this summer."

Ms Butterfield said when Davon arrived he had a few problems adjusting, but had gone on to do "extremely well".

She added: "He looked like Rambo when he came, but now he is a well-dressed young man and is hair is neatly done."

Tonka Simpson, 16, from Bailey's Bay, wants to finish his GED at CARE and then attend Bermuda College to get his boat piloting licence.

He said: "I left school because I wasn't getting on with some teachers. I left before I got into trouble, and came here to get my GED."

For information about CARE, call the center on 292-0915.