At Maui schools this year, there's a buddy system.

Student leaders from five schools began recruiting their peers last week to participate in Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that pairs general education students with intellectually or developmentally disabled students.

"We set up one-to-one friendships that take place not only at school, but go into their personal lives. Buddies will go to the movies or visit a mall together," said Best Buddies Hawaii state director Mike McCormick. The official commitment for volunteers is one year, but McCormick said buddies often develop long-term friendships.

"It's a program that really does change people's lives," said Maui High chapter vice president Claudia Lara, a junior. "Not only do we learn a lot from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but they also get to be involved in society, especially in school. Having a friend there makes the biggest difference."

The Hawai'i chapter began in April 2008 at Baldwin and Maui high schools, expanding quickly to King Kekaulike, Seabury Hall and Lokelani Intermediate.

"It's amazing. Last year at Baldwin and Maui, we had 150 students volunteer at each school. It was actually too many volunteers, so this year we're hoping to end up with 50 to 60 at each school," said McCormick.

Volunteers will be interviewed by chapter presidents, and special-education teachers will help pair 15 to 20 of them with buddies at school. Students who aren't involved in a direct match still have the opportunity to help with Best Buddies-related school fundraisers, group events and service projects.

Lara was one of five high school students from Maui to attend the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference from July 23 to 28 at the University of Indiana campus in Bloomington. The Hawai'i contingent spent nine-hour days with 1,000 other attendees from around the world, learning about inclusion, time management and leadership skills.

"It was inspirational, seeing all those people who are so passionate about Best Buddies," she said. "You realize it's a movement around the world to get people with disabilities to belong in society. They gave us the tools to bring back to Maui — leadership qualities, how to fundraise, and different ideas for activities we can do with our buddies."

Each school chapter is primarily student-run, with guidance and resources provided by McCormick. He hopes to continue to expand the program throughout Maui and the rest of the state, but has run into difficulty securing funding in today's uncertain economic climate.

"Hawai'i really needs this program. A lot of parents (throughout the state) are asking how they can get involved — my challenge is expanding this to keep up with demand," he said.

McCormick's ultimate goal is a world where the Best Buddies program isn't needed, because society will automatically befriend those with disabilities.

"Outside of their own families, they don't really interact with other people. A lot of them have been picked on and not included," said McCormick, who has a brother with a developmental disability. "Once they have a friend, their whole outlook on life improves. They start going to school activities, and have lunch with their buddies. It's a really empowering process."