Premier Ewart Brown yesterday personally congratulated scores of volunteers who are the driving force behind a scheme to transform Bermudian lives.

Making the statement at yesterday's open house event for the Mirrors Programme, which centres on youth intervention for at risk young people, Dr. Brown spotlighted how it can procure change on Bermudian lives.

And Dr. Brown said that the only way the current adversities affecting those youth between the ages of 18 to 24, is to change perceptions.

Dr. Brown stated: "Many years ago while in the United States, I witnessed something called Uncommon Results.

"I watched dedicated people, much like ourselves, transform misguided lives into hopeful vessels of opportunities.

"From the first moment I saw Uncommon Results in action I knew it was exactly the tonic needed for the ills affecting Bermuda's youth. It took a decade, but today, Uncommon Results is here. There's a new name for it. Mirrors, as we've titled it, will transform Bermudian lives so that all of our citizens can enjoy an unimpeded pursuit of success and happiness."

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Dr. Brown said that some young people are simply not able to manage their circumstances effectively.

He elaborated: "What some youngsters are able to swim through, others get stuck in. And when they get off-track, there must be forthcoming help from the community.

"And, this programme is an example of the community coming to the aid of its least able members."

During the past few weeks, the media, this paper included, has reported on the widely perceived disconnect the Island's youth has with the ruling PLP Government, especially since Dr. Brown came to power.

Not so, responded the Premier, who described the recent coverage by the media, as merely someone's attempt at swaying public opinion on his personality.

"I think that's apart of an orchestrated attempt to indicate that there's no interest or support from young people," he explained.

"I think it's far from true, especially by the number of young people here in this room today. Everywhere I go I meet and talk with young people and they don't seem to be disaffected to me.

"There are some, but they're in the distinct minority and for those that feel otherwise, that's what makes a democracy."

Dr. Brown concurred with the criticism by the Progressive Minds group the youth wing of the PLP — that questioned the motivations of scores of young people, almost entirely from private schools that held a demonstration on Parliament a few months ago.

Some counter-protestors from the Progressive Minds were at the march on Parliament and were heard questioning the expressive pupils on where they were getting their information.

"I think a lot of those people came there as a result of listening to people, who had already made up their minds about the Government," Dr. Brown articulated.

"When I see some consistency from a group, then I pay more attention to them."

The Premier, under the Ministry of Social Rehabilitation, spearheaded the scheme in 2007 and when functional, it will be an intensive programme for youth believed to be falling through the cracks.

The goal of Mirrors is to develop human potential by assisting participants to better understand themselves.

Giving youth a new context in which to mould their lives is the grand idea, according to the Ministry.

Comprised of 182 professional volunteers and at least 116 referred young people, the Mirrors Programme will be delivered in two phases.

The first phase, is a six to nine day residential programme. It will provide a challenging intensive course, where those enlisted must confront the choices they have made.

Additionally, it will highlight the consequences of those choices and how they have limited the possibilities available to them in the process of making them.

The second phase of the scheme is to be implemented in the community over a period of 12 months.

In this phase the participants must implement changes to their lives, such as potential recognition.

Nataki Smith, 31, an educator by profession, was one of the trained volunteers present at yesterday's official unveiling of the programme, which saw a ten-minute video presentation on the US version of it.

"The reason I volunteered for this opportunity is to help youth at risk, get their life on track, regain self-esteem and find out from them what they want to get out of life," Ms Smith said.

"Since I work in the education system and I see lots of troubled youths, I thought it would be a good experience to transition to the next level.

"By troubled youths, I mean some that have behavioural problems, emotional problems, as well as those that come from dysfunctional families."

In Bermuda, one cannot talk about the depressing plight of youth, without pointing the blame finger. However, Ms Smith admitted that no one in particular is to blame for the current inclinations.

"I don't think that you can blame one particular person," she added. "I think that everyone as a whole has a part in contributing to the way in which a person feels.

"From family members, parents, community members, teachers and peers — these are all influential elements that we must consider."

Also present at yesterday's gathering at the Ace Ltd. Headquarters on Woodbourne Avenue, was Acting Minister for Social Rehabilitation, Dennis Lister, representing the off-Island Minister Dale Butler.

Mr. Lister described the Ministry's scope as comprehensive and has the goal of improving the lives of all Bermuda residents from their first breath to their last.