Nine-thousand miles from Front Street at the end of a row of pastel coloured houses sits an above ground water tank emblazoned with the words 'Bermuda Village'.

While Bermudians are known to be some of the richest people in the world, people in Bermuda Village are among the poorest.

The village was built last year through funds raised by the Bermuda branch of an international charity Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP).

Now ANCOP is continuing its work in the Philippines with the 2009 GK Walk in Paget on August 23.

"The Bermuda Village already has 20 houses," said local ANCOP president, Evelou Mosely. "Ten are under construction and ten more are planned."

ANCOP vice president Severina 'Mot' Saliba said the village homes are painted Bermuda colours like blue, pink and green as a nod to its Island benefactors.

There are several villages built by ANCOP chapters around the world.

"We have been told that Bermuda Village is one of the best because it has its own water supply," said Ms Saliba. "And there is a livelihood programme right there in Bermuda Village in the form of a bakery and icecream factory.

"So we are glad that the Bermuda Village is taken care of. There are caretakers assigned to every ANCOP village. Fortunately, the one assigned to Bermuda Village is very dedicated."

Mrs. Mosely hoped to visit the village when she returns to the Philippines this December.

ANCOP was launched in 2003. Under its Gawad Kalinga (giving care) (GK) programme, GK777, the group aims to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years. There are chapters all over the world, and one was started in Bermuda about three years ago.

The August walk is being done in conjunction with similar walks in Canada and the United States.

Money raised from the walk will also go to other ANCOP programmes in the arenas of health, spirituality and education.

ANCOP recently started a child sponsorship programme.

"This involves sending under privileged children to school with books and school supplies," said Ms Saliba. "It also helps with extra things like educational field trips."

She said education is free in the Philippines, but it is very hard for a child to go to school when they can't afford basics like pens, paper and shoes.

"We would also really like to raise enough money to start building a second village in another area," said Ms Saliba. "We would like to expand."

But the GK Walk held this year will also benefit local charities.

"We cannot build a house in Bermuda; it is too expensive," said Ms Saliba. "But we will provide the money and labour to improve the condition of some low income home, depending on the availability of funds.

"We started with Hope Homes. Last year, we repainted their roof. After this fundraising event we will decide which local charity we will help this year.

"We have a lot of volunteers doing a lot of volunteer work in Bermuda."

The walk will be on August 23. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk is at 10 a.m. The route will be from the Botanical Gardens in Paget, down Berry Hill Road and onto Harbour Road. It will include Lovers Lane and back to the Botanical Gardens.

Walkers can register online at www.ancopbermuda.com or at Eves Cycles on Middle Road in Paget, Kit n Caboodle in the Bermudiana Arcade in Hamilton, or the Sportseller in the Washington Mall.

For more information visit http://www.gawadkalinga.org/ or send an email to ancopbermuda@logic.bm or telephone Ms Saliba at 332-1221.