Eight secondary schools will earn $30,000 each when their students team up with local charities again under the 'Dollars for Hours' project led by PartnerRe Ltd.

'Dollars For Hours: Youth and Community in Partnership' will distribute a total of $240,000 to public and private schools, and give hands-on support to local charities.

"This is the fifth time that PartnerRe has paired local charities with the secondary schools, bringing our total Dollars for Hours donation to over $1,000,000 since the programme's inception in 2006," said PartnerRe CEO Patrick Thiele.

"As a Bermudian company, we have a sincere interest in Bermuda and in particular, the education of our young people. Through our Dollars for Hours initiative, we aim to encourage students to provide grassroots support to our local charities, while also contributing financially towards the improvement of their educational experience."

Students aged 14 to 18 from CedarBridge Academy, Saltus Grammar School, Somersfield Academy, Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Institute, Warwick Academy and Mount Saint Agnes Academy will take part in Dollars for Hours, with each school adopting a different charity project.

Participating non-profits include: the Bermuda Senior Islanders Centre, Bermuda Zoological Society, PRIDE, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Bermuda National Trust, WindReach Recreational Village, Bermuda Audubon Society and The Sunshine League.

Projects include environmental schemes, heritage and health-related initiatives.

Students will help the Bermuda Senior Islanders Centre put together a book about senior citizens; the Bermuda Zoological Society with invasive plant species removal from a portion of Trunk Island;

Also included are the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) with a woodlands restoration project; Bermuda National Trust with the removal of invasive plant species from the Gladys Morrell Nature Reserve; PRIDE with an office painting and mural project;

WindReach Recreational Village as it enhances its petting zoo; The Sunshine League Children's Home with a home painting project and the Bermuda Audubon Society with a bluebird nest box construction.

School students will complete each task within one or two weekends.

PartnerRe will cover the cost of materials and will coordinate a showcase for students to share their experiences once all projects are completed.

For more information telephone Partner Re on 292-0888.