Ciara Burrows was overwhelmed by the heat and beauty of the land when she first spotted the west coast of Haiti.But as the 16-year-old disembarked Spirit of Bermuda with her peers and travelled further inland to Port-au-Prince, she saw a different side of the Caribbean nation.Ciara, part of a group of 26 from Bermuda, came into contact with extreme poverty shortly after arriving.It quickly became clear to the group why they had agreed to journey to Haiti and help Bermuda Phillip Rego’s charity, Feed My Lambs Ministry, build a school in the impoverished nation.She said: “Driving through the streets you could see a lot of poverty and many people trying to sell some of their goods and drinks.“As we got closer to the orphanage, we could see more directly the impact on the children who were like half-dressed or not dressed at all.”Sixteen-year-old Dylan Moulder said he signed up for the project to give back to the less fortunate.“Probably about a year ago I began to have that feeling where you get everything you want and you see these people that don’t have anything and who need the help.”He had been on sailing trips before on board Spirit of Bermuda and said he was inspired by a presentation on overseas mission trips at his school Saltus.“I sailed to Canada last year so I wanted to go on another overseas voyage to get more experience and help out,” he said.“This one stuck out to me because I have heard about the struggles experienced in Haiti, with the earthquake and all the different diseases [that impact the nation], and I just wanted to go down there and help so people there could have a better life.”The young people were divided into two groups; both left the Island on July 2 and returned on July 21.Some sailed to the Caribbean nation as others were already on site helping build the school. Midway through the trip they switched places.Based in Montrouis, Mr Rego has operated an orphanage and medical clinic in Haiti through Feed My Lambs Ministry since 2008.Thanks to donations from the public, the charity has raised enough money to build a new school for student in grades one through ten.Mr Rego said: “This has all been achieved with Bermudian help over the years. But the needs are still so great, that’s why we are building a school which we need to open in October. The teachers are ready, the kids are ready, we just need the building to be ready.”Once completed, the school will have the facilities to educate 400 students, free of charge. In Haiti, tuition can range from $150 to $250 each year. As a result of the expense, approximately half the population are illiterate.The building project is currently on track to finish one month ahead of schedule, due to the work done by Spirit’s crew and approximately 20 other volunteers who took part in the mission trip.Volunteers were tasked with moving supplies, like 60lb concrete blocks, to make the process easier for the Haitian builders.When not taking part in the building project, the young people spent time at the orphanage, which currently houses 35 children, aged six months to 23 years old.Ciara said the most rewarding part of the experience was getting to know the local children. “Just being there to play with them and spend time with them and make them laugh was great.“It was rewarding just seeing how much your presence makes a difference in their lives and knowing that your contribution was helping them and speeding up the construction process [for the school].”She said it was a challenge leaving the children behind, knowing she was going back to a better life.“When you put down the children [to say goodbye] they started to cry because they became attached so much in such a short time,” she explained.For Dylan, the hardest part was working in the intense heat and dealing with sickness.“It was very humid and hot down there and a couple of us did get sick. Myself and another person we had a fever for three days just from the weather and dust. Even the malaria pills can make you very sick if not taken properly.”He said the experience was “a big reality check” in terms of seeing how other people survive without electricity, hot water and other things commonly taken for granted.“I am a lot more tolerant than I used to be. I am more conscious about how people really do live in other parts of the world and I’m a lot more appreciative of everything I have now.”Plumbers and electricians are still needed to complete the school. Anyone interested in participating in a mission trip should contact Linda Rego Adderley on 536-3613 or Lois Wilson on 705-2274.Spirit will hold a tag day fundraiser at various locations around the Island on Friday, from 9am until 5pm.Spirit of Bermuda took a similar trip last year, sailing to the Dominican Republic to build housing.