In 1997, a man with a vision took a group of young black Bermudian men to Hunstville, Alabama.

There they were enrolled in Drake State Technical College to pursue various technical careers and now 12 years later, all of them have degrees, certifications and respected jobs.

That man was Michael Stowe who started Manage Technical Training as a way to get young men out of Bermuda to pursue further education.

Far from the distractions of a small Island, the young men flourished with many of them achieving grades to put them in the top of their classes.

Gerald Saltus, 29, Tyrone Butterfield, 30, Justin Stowe, 32, Kenneth Butterfield, 31, Josh Bremar, 30 and Derreck Bean, 32, were part of the original group of men who went to Alabama.

Now, brothers Kenneth and Tyrone own their own business — Ascendant Technologies Ltd — while Justin works for the National Training Board, Gerald for Belco, Josh for Universal Electric, and Derreck for Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Mr. Stowe explained how the programme came to be. "We started in 1997. I took a group of 14 Bermudians overseas to school.

"During a period of three years, some 30 in total went to school. Of the 30, 24 successfully finished their studies and four have gone on to get degrees."

Mr. Stowe works to get the young men admitted into school, finds them housing, transportation and sometimes funding. He sent another six young men last Sunday to Alabama.

The programme can assist in securing funds for the young men through scholarships, loans and grants but does not pay for their education.

Over the years, Mr. Stowe has taken a total of 30 young men to Alabama.

Speaking about the men, Mr. Stowe said Gerald was only 17-years-old when he left Bermuda and finished at the top of his class.

"They are ordinary young men who have done extraordinary things. Each one of them are still employed in their area of qualifications.

"When given the opportunity they can achieve extraordinary results. They are extraordinary young people."

The men spoke about their reasons why many young men in Bermuda decide to sell drugs and commit crimes rather than to go away to school.

Derreck said: "The opportunity I think is the critical thing. If you don't have it, you don't have it."

Tyronne agreed and said there is more opportunity now than 12 years ago.

Justin said: "You pretty much have to take a chance. I finished high school and I told my father I wanted to play football.

"I looked at Drake and we went with it. You pretty much need to take a chance."

Kenneth said: "It boils down to the individual. I have to be fully motivated. If you don't want it, you won't get it. It's all about yourself.

"Down here I was a pretty average students. Dealing with Mr. Stowe and all these people, they have me a chance to get off the Island."

He explained he hadn't left Bermuda in six years before going to Drake. And since returning, he has studied in the UK and Virginia obtaining various certifications in the technology world.

He continued: "Whatever I put in my mind to do, I can do it. My mind is what drives me.

"There's always an option. A lot of people say 'I'm failing here, I can't do something'.

"I found that I focus a lot more outside of Bermuda. I was given an opportunity and since then I haven't looked back."

Mr. Stowe said: "I have seen a very dramatic change and personal development outcome. These young men have proven themselves to be achievers. They are considered in what they are doing with their careers. They are ambitious.

"I think what they represent is part of the pride thing that Bermuda needs to associate with today. These young people completely refute the idea that we should have lost pride in the first place."

Kenneth spoke highly of Mr. Stowe and the opportunity he afforded him 12 years ago.

"If it weren't for Mr. Stowe, we wouldn't be where we are today. The company I was working for had no intention of sending me away."

Asked what advice they would give young men to make something of themselves, Derreck said: "These guys either they don't know, they don't care or they don't see it as a possibility."

Tyrone said: "When I finished primary school, I heard about people going away and not coming back to get a job.

For most people, they don't have it in their head that they can make it in college let alone being a success.

"A lot of people who went college, their parents had money to finance their future. Sometimes people have to realise that not everybody can carry your future."