Looking elegant but somewhat conspicuous in her olive silk suit and dangling geometric earrings, Ms Jennifer Smith MP -- Deputy Opposition Leader and recess monitor of the moment -- strolls watchfully through the playground of Dellwood Primary School, her eyes on alert for any schoolyard infractions, her presence a source of much excitement to the band of blue-blazered boys crowding noisily around her.

The following day, Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leo Mills, in an even more conspicuous exercise, shouts animated "good mornings'' to the rush of 8 a.m.

commuters as they zip through the roundabout near Trimingham Hill. Mr. Johnny Barnes, his more experienced companion at the task, waves cheerily nearby.

A mile or so down the road, meanwhile, Tourism Director Mr. Gary Phillips and Ms Sue Davis of the Consumer Affairs Bureau are readying themselves for a busy morning of chores, Mr. Phillips as a staffer at the Rosedon Hotel, Ms Davis in the Men's Department of Trimingham's on Front Street.

At first glance, it might easily appear that Ms Smith, Mr. Mills and the nine other community leaders who switched career gears last week had abandoned their high-profile positions in politics and other fields for some equally demanding but substantially less public jobs.

In a way, they had -- but only for a couple of hours and with very specific reason.

The leaders, who last Thursday and Friday did everything from wash dishes in a hotel kitchen to answer telephones at the Women's Resource Centre to monitor traffic in the middle of Hamilton, were participants in the "Walking in Someone's Shoes'' initiative. It was a two-day exercise of the non-profit Beyond Barriers organisation that aimed to foster community togetherness by placing the Island's movers and shakers into roles that most of them would never have otherwise experienced.

While there were no Government ministers on hand -- nor was there anyone there from the media -- the people who actually did walk in someone else's shoes last week consisted of many top players from government, academics and religion.

Among them were two Members of Parliament (Ms Smith and Mr. Trevor Moniz, who put in some time at the Age Concern shared housing facility), a senator (Neletha "Honey'' Butterfield, who did her duties at the Opportunity Workshop on Thursday) and a mayor (Hamil ton's Rt. Wor. William Boyle, who served on Friday as an honorary traffic warden).

And most participants found it extremely worthwhile.

"It's a real eye-opener,'' Ms Smith said as she hurried down the halls of Dellwood Primary after her stint as a schoolyard monitor.

"I think as many people as possible should do it. I think the news media should do it.'' During her three-hour turn at the school, the shadow minister for education also conducted an art lesson for soon-to-be-graduating grade sevens and lent a hand to the teachers in a special education class.

Mr. Mills, meanwhile, appeared to be a big hit in his role as rush-hour well-wisher.

During the Friday morning rush hour, a cacophony of car horns greeted his salutations, with many of the commuters actually slowing down to exchange pleasantries or shake his hand.

"It's a fascinating exercise,'' Mr. Mills told The Gazette from his kerbside vantage point, "to see how people greet the day.

"I have seen a few sour faces this morning, but most people have been delightful. I do believe that Mr. Barnes has a wonderful ministry here to see how people respond so favourably.'' Mr. Mills, who said that he was leaving the experience with a "great sense of joy,'' could just as easily have been speaking for the Beyond Barriers project as well.

AN ARTFUL POLITICIAN -- "Walking in Someone's Shoes'' participant Ms Jennifer Smith MP gives 12-year-old art student Jason Botelho a hand with his pencil sketch on Thursday during her morning as a teacher at Dellwood Primary School.

DARLIN' WE LOVE YA -- Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leo Mills (left) joins rush-hour well-wisher Mr. Johnny Barnes at the Trimingham Hill roundabout last week.

CLEANING UP IN THE BUSINESS -- Tourism Director Mr. Gary Phillips gets some hands-on experience by washing dishes in the Rosedon Hotel's kitchen on Friday.