His mother, Mauva Parchment, could not accept the fact that, as a Christian woman, who instilled proper values in her children that all her efforts seemed lost on Alonzo.

"Alonzo loved to go to school," she said. "But that was it. He didn't do any work although he seemed inclined to electronics."

All that changed when Ewan Scott, a Jamalco employee, took him under his wings by becoming his mentor. Now Parchment wants to know what magic touch Scott seemed to possess. Her son has improved and does not 'talk badness' anymore.

Programme's success

"The mentorship programme is working for Ben (as Alonzo is affectionately called)," said Parchment.

"No magic touch," began Scott's explanation of his achievement with the young man.

"All I did was to keep in contact with him. We went to football matches and I got a chance to talk to him and lend an ear. We have formed a lifelong relationship," he said.

Parchment was eventually awarded for relentlessly ensuring her son continued in the programme. Alonzo, a shy lanky boy, said he would continue the programme and now has the goal of becoming a welder.

The mentorship programme was launched in October 2008. The programme uses Jamalco volunteers, who are trained to mentor. The students they mentor are chosen based on their declining interest in school.

The students meet with their mentors to socialise every Thursday after school in their Excellence Club.