Mothers whose teenage sons have volunteered to take part in the Mirrors programme spoke yesterday of its "remarkable" benefits.

The $500,000 scheme was launched a year ago by Government to give "at risk" teens a chance to change their mindsets and take responsibility for their lives.

Community volunteers give their time as "committed partners" to youngsters aged 15 to 18 in order to address their "resignation, scepticism and cynicism".

Moms Gaylhia Le May and Donnamaie Butterfield told The Royal Gazette their sons signed up for the programme themselves and were no more troublesome than the average teen.

"They are saying it is for 'at risk' teenagers but just the mere fact that you are a young person makes you at risk," said Ms Le May, whose 15-year-old son Joshua is making steady progress on the nine-month programme, after completing a week-long residential course at Willowbank last year.

She claimed Opposition MPs recently sought to politicise Mirrors and said criticism of the programme stung. "I feel it is very unfortunate that those who have reached out and volunteered to give their time and commitment are being discredited.

"Young people can't be fooled. They know when you are for real and they know when you are phony and the results that I have seen have been remarkable."

She said Mirrors had helped her son achieve several goals, including a promise to complete a project 100 percent, rather than giving up part way through.

"My son loves it," she added. "He looks forward to going to his follow through meetings.

Ms Butterfield said her son Allafia, 16, was also benefiting from taking part. "He is a teenager, so with teenagers come issues," she said.

"I don't know what led him to it but it was his choice. I'm going to honestly say he is in the foetus stage of this nine-month programme. I eagerly await the birth."

Ms Butterfield and Ms Le May will be attending a Mirrors workshop for parents at Elbow Beach this weekend. "What I'm hoping is that it will help give me a better outlook on what he's had the chance to benefit from and an understanding of the process he is going through," said Ms Butterfield.

Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler told a press conference that the workshop was aimed at giving parents the chance to "explore the concepts of transformation".

He revealed that from July this year the Mirrors programme will be extended to include youths up to age 21 and that Government may commit to it for five years if it continues to produce positive results. He described the first year participants as trailblazers for the "new, inventive programme".

Mr. Butler insisted that the residential week was definitely not a "boot camp". Programme coordinator Kimberley Jackson said there were physical and mental challenges but the key focus was on choices.

"It's intensive and it's ongoing," she said.

"When they come out of the residential they have nine months and an opportunity to anchor themselves into the choices that they are going to make."

To contact Mirrors call 294-9291.