Bermudian Diane Kirwin was backpacking through India when she fell in love with a group of impoverished villagers.She visited a school that was being held in a cow shed in Bodhgaya in Bihar and “realised how much could be done with little money”.She returned from her trip and sent her Christmas card wish list to family and friends. “We built a school with the money we collected,” she said.That was more than a decade ago.She and her son Mark now run a charity, the Kirwin International Relief Fund (KIRF).With the support of many Bermudians, they have been able to build a school, install water wells, and set up a medical clinic and sewing centre for villagers.This year they received donations from Warwick Academy, Bermuda High School and Paget Primary, which allowed them to buy healthy snacks, uniforms, desks and school supplies for the village children.She said in this part of India all the parents were illiterate “so it's a very important thing for the children to be educated”.There is no electricity, phones, toilets or running water and children must often walk several kilometres just to get to school.Many cannot afford to bring lunch with them and used to struggle to get through the school day, she said.But thanks to donations from the Island, 110 children who attend the Kirwin James International School (named after co-founder Colin James) were given fresh vegetables for the first time.They were also given healthy snacks, like chickpeas, plain biscuits and a dollop of cane sugar, to boost their energy levels throughout the day.“Many of the school children [in Bermuda] worked hard with bake sales and because of that we were able to this year give the children [in India] each a backpack and all the little things they need like pencils, paper and they got their first drawing book and their first little paint sets.“[When we gave] the children the paint sets they looked around wondering who to share it with because they never had their own things before.“[We] made these children very happy and they were so proud of their backpacks,” she added.Mrs Kirwin said the donations not only helped the villagers, but also taught young children in Bermuda to be more grateful for what they have. “That alone is a wonderful thing,” she said.Money raised by St Paul's Church and Holy Trinity Church have also helped to keep KIRF's medical clinic running for a second year.The clinic is opened each Saturday and dozens of people sit outside for hours, even on very cold mornings, just waiting to be seen by the homeopathic doctor.“About 60 people on average come a week. I had interviews with maybe 20 people with my staff [members] interpreting and the people we talked to were all happy with the treatment they received.She said one man had been to a large clinic for a year with no real improvement in his health a month into his treatment at the KIRF clinic he started to feel better.“He was so grateful he started following me everywhere, smiling from ear to ear.”Monies raised also go towards the sewing centre, which is currently giving 24 young women skills to find employment as seamstresses.“We found out they are all illiterate so the first half an hour is dedicated to reading and writing, so they can at least learn to write their names.“About four have graduated. One is earning money in the village and this woman would have had no way without the training to earn anything.”Two years ago the Sandys, Pembroke and Hamilton Rotary clubs gave a substantial donation that allowed the charity to build wells and provide the community with clean drinking water.Mrs Kirwin said: “We were able to put in ten wells and we put them in a close enough radius that our staff person can keep a close check to make sure they keep working.“People are very, very grateful and it's good quality water.”Before, people had to walk a long way for water, but everyone in the community is welcome at the wells, she said.She told The Royal Gazette her work with the charity was still rewarding.“Often when I am there I think not a lot is happening this year, but when I look at the photos a lot has always happened.“It is wonderful to see the children evolving. They were dirty and straggly and with education people rise up and they look different in every way and the children are learning a lot.“Some of them are very bright, but everyone is amazed at what they all manage to learn in a year.”She said the charity's goal is to have one paid student for every free student “so the school will be self-supporting”.She also hopes to one day provide higher education for poor students, who are typically only educated until year 11. They also hope to develop a trade centre on the land.“People have watched it grow and have been most generous and supportive in every way because some people cannot give funds but they always welcome me and help me,” Mrs Kirwin said.KIRF is a registered Indian charitable trust and has a board of Indian trustees.For more information or to donate online visit www.kirfindia.org.