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It's like a crash course in attitude adjustment - and we found out how it works:..

Dianne Finnegan, Apprenticeship Programme
"We had a two weeks orientation and that is basically to prepare them for entering into the work place. So we did sessions on job ethics, domestic violence, all the issues that would affect them within their work place. On Monday they will each be place with an employer and they start their journey for 6 months. We are hoping that throughout those 6 months that employer would see their potential, they would manifest - they need to transform their lives and then remain employed as a full time at each of those businesses."

Michael Young knows that path well - he is one of the programme's proudest successes:

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"Well for me it basically brings my whole life in order because I didn't appreciate this working thing at all. Due to the program - it tells you what the importance of work is and the importance of what you need in life and what you expect to get out of life."

Jules Vasquez
"So what were you doing before?"

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"I can't speak about it like that. All I can say is that I was doing things that I wasn't supposed to do."

Jules Vasquez "So now you work at Belize Diesel?"

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"I work at Belize Diesel full time from Monday to Friday and fortunately one to two times on Saturdays. But apart from that everything is good, it's a really good job and I really enjoy it. I make a lot of money and everything is good."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you know anything about mechanic before you went to work there?"

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"Apart from how a car looks and drives, no. I didn't know anything at all."

Jules Vasquez
"And now you are a full time staff?"

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"Now I am a full time worker. I am working by myself. The last time they brought in a trainee, they actually put him under me due to that I have excelled and I can work by myself."

And that kind of surpassing success is what these graduates are hoping for.

Sherwin Kerr, Wants to be electrician
"For me so far the program has done a lot for me because right now I would have been on the streets smoking weed and do something."

Jules Vasquez
"So what are you doing right now?"

Sherwin Kerr, Wants to be electrician
"I am trying to do electrical."

Lyvette Brown, wants to be cook
"I love cooking and so I am taking the cooking trade other than be on the streets doing nothing. I have successfully completed the orientation and so now I am planning to go on the job to do my best."

And this class of 65 hopefuls has to do its best to meet the high standards demanded by the programme:

Dianne Finnegan, Apprenticeship Programme
"They had to get to classes, to sessions every day at a quarter to eight. We did the orientation during the celebration time because you know that young people love to party. So if you didn't come back after the long weekend or after a day off then it tells us whether you are going to be serious on the job, committed on the job and really want to make a difference in your life."

And a difference is what these youths are looking for:

Lyvette Brown, wants to be cook
"Obviously the things happening every day just give more encouragement that I need to do something in life before I be the next person harm or a victim of street violence, so I think that this program really helps."

Sherwin Kerr, Wants to be electrician
"So far I want to tell the youths to come join a program or do something with their life because it doesn't make any sense they are out there on the streets doing simpleness."

Michael Young, Employed As A Mechanic
"I encourage every youth out there that what they are doing doesn't make any sense and if they continue down the road two things will happen either they will end up in jail or they will die. When you sit down and think about, nobody wants that because me personally I don't want that."

This group of 65 is the programme's second intake. The first had only 20 and 15 of those are currently gainfully employed.