A program for at-risk students has been renewed at Miami Killian Senior High School.

The Children's Trust and the Department of Juvenile Justice have granted funds for the Non-Violence Project at Killian.

Brandon Holt, senior program coordinator for the project, said it has three components: mentoring, an after-school club and an ambassadors program.

The project serves 60 Killian students in the mentoring program, mostly boys, referred because of behavior issues in school. About 75 students participate in the Non-Violence Project Club, and about 40 have signed up for the ambassadors program, which hasn't started yet.

Mentors try to help them set goals and work to reach them -- like getting an A in a class, getting into college or getting along better with their parents, said Christine Fabre, one of the project's mentors.

``It has to be an obtainable goal,'' Fabre said.

In the six-week ambassadors program, coordinators speak to a class once a week on topics like self-esteem and conflict resolution.

The after-school program is based on community service and has worked with Habitat for Humanity, Shake-a-Leg, Curly's House of Style and other groups.

The Non-Violence Project-USA is a nonprofit organization that got started more than 10 years ago in Coral Gables. The goal is to provide a safe environment for students to learn life skills.

The program is also offered at Northwestern Senior High and Ponce de Leon, Paul W. Bell and Richmond Heights middle schools.

Holt says he sees a major improvement in teens.

``I'm 30 years old, and I haven't lived half their lives,'' Holt said.

``We are so quick to point a finger at what kids aren't doing, but these kids are doing so much for the community.''

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