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We've told you about the program before where at-risk youths are enrolled and given employable skills with job training and the opportunity for further employment. This morning at their third graduation Monica Bodden found out why for some it was a celebration.

Monica Bodden reporting
The third graduation for the Ministry of Education Youth Apprenticeship Program was held today inside the King's Room at the Princess Hotel. The program first started off with 30 at risk youths in its first intake. By its second intake it was double the amount. Today one hundred and thirteen youths completed the 6 month program and were awarded with certificates - that's more than triple the amount of young people when the program first started.

Dianne Finnegan- Coordinator, Apprenticeship Programme
"The program focuses on young people who did not finish school and single mothers ages 16-29. It is about giving them the opportunity to become transformed from idleness into productive citizens making sure and understand that they have a space and a place within our society that they can do just as well as an individual who went to school. The program also kind of make sure that they go back to school, so the majority are going back to the Gwen Liz Evening Division. We've seen graduates already from the program that is already going to six form; the evening division college and we have one who have won the Barton Scholarship who is going to UB."

And while these young men and women are given the opportunity to transform themselves into productive citizens - there is a process they each need to undergo.

Dianne Finnegan- Coordinator, Apprenticeship Programme
"Before they are placed they go through a two weeks orientation where we prepare them with basic job skills, anger management, conflict resolution, they learn about the labor laws, domestic violence, every single thing that could affect you in the job place it is done. We have facilitators that come in and do sessions with them for the two weeks. After they've passed through that period because that's the determining factor whether they want to stay and remain in the program then we placed them with the different employers. They work 4 days a week Monday - Thursday and then on Friday they go back into the classroom setting where they get basic remedial subjects; English, Math and Reading but the bulk of it is the life skills and the mentoring session that happens there."

"I think that's the area that really - where the true transformation comes in."

Nicole Gladden - one of today's graduates first found out about the program through her sister-in-law.

Nicole Gladden - Graduate
"We went through a lot of training with Mrs. Dianne whereby what to expect in the job settings and what not to expect. How to carry ourselves and different things like that. It has been good throughout the whole 6 months because then we get to learn different things, meet different people and with the other apprentices, so we came together like one big family at the end."

Jordan Young - Graduate
"I was recommended by a friend but then Mrs. Dianne actually came when I was held in police custody and the she took me under her wings and place me in the program."

Monica Bodden
"Tell me what you did while in the program?"

Jordan Young - Graduate
"For the first week we went through different scenarios about how to act in a workplace and the second week we were placed on the job site for 4 days; Monday - Thursday we went to our jobs and on Friday we went at ITVET and we did more anger management and different stuff."

Monica Bodden
"Jordan, how has this program helped you as an individual?"

Jordan Young - Graduate
"It helped me in a very positive way because it helps me to stay off the streets because of the work hours that they place us on."

And coming from a life of violence, today Clayburn Pascasio says he is a changed person in search of a better life for himself. Only 2 years ago Pascasio was a victim of a shooting that almost cost him his life.

Clayburn Pascasio - Graduate
"I was on the streets and I was injured and couldn't get a job nowhere, so they told me to go Mrs. Finnegan and I went and she told me that I came too late. I pull up my shirt and told her that I just got shot and ask her if she wanted me to go back out there to get shot and she says no. She says that she will squeeze me in the program. As she did that my gunshot wound started to affect me; my kidney started to fail and so they started to help and then I realize that the program is good for anybody and everybody because if you are nobody the program let you be somebody."

Monica Bodden
"Tell me what you did while in this program?"

Clayburn Pascasio - Graduate
"In this program I learned to be respectful, I learn to be someone and I learned to talk to people because if it was not for that I would have known how to talk to you. I wouldn't have wanted to go on camera but now I can reason and I could cooperate with anybody."

Monica Bodden
"How do you feel to actually be one of the graduates and receive a certificate today?"

Clayburn Pascasio - Graduate
"I feel good and I would want every ghetto youth that don't have any knowledge and no family to come in this program and be somebody because this program let me be somebody."

Sherma Francis - Graduate
"I found out about it on my own and I took the advantage because I wanted a second chance in doing something else and my mom supported me fully and I got something good from it; I learned how to deal with people and stuff."

Monica Bodden
"Tell me what you did while in the program?"

Sherma Francis - Graduate
"I went to Radisson; that was my training for the 6 months. I got along with everyone and I learned how to be myself and to succeed in my work."

This group of one hundred and thirteen is the program's third intake.