Times may be getting tough as the world suffers an economic recession, but Bermudians are more determined than ever to help the less fortunate.

That was the message from David Thompson, founder and President of Bermuda Overseas Missions, a charity helping to send groups of people from the Island to help Habitat for Humanity, a group that builds homes for some of the world's neediest people.

Since the Bermuda Overseas Missions group started partnering with Habitat for Humanity six years ago, they have helped send about 200 people from the Island to work on projects in places including Brazil, Romania, Botswana, Montana in the United States, and most recently, Guatemala.

And a 'Guatemala Night' interest meeting held at the City Hall Theatre on December 28 attracted more potential volunteers than ever before. The meeting was designed to tell people about the group's trip to Guatemala last year, and garner support for projects this year.

"The meeting was tremendous," said Mr. Thompson. "We had a lot of new faces. We had over 100 people at City Hall. We were quite amazed at the turn-out. We ran out of forms. So they must have all found it interesting enough to want to pursue it. We don't advertise. Interest just spreads through word of mouth. I also lecture at some of the schools about what we are doing."

Mr. Thompson said many groups had shown an interest in Habitat for Humanity, particularly those that work with young people.

"We have done a partnership with the Department of Youth and Sport," added Mr. Thompson. "They have taken at risk youths along with us. We have had people from De Boys Day Out Club and the Boy Scouts."

And he said he has been in talks with other youth groups, although nothing has yet been finalised.

In 2008, there was enough interest in Guatemala that two different groups went in July.

"Just as the first group finished we overlapped for two days with the second group," said Mr. Thompson.

"Each project is ten days long. That, believe it or not, will build a house. It is amazing. That includes foundation and bricking. But you are talking about a property that is about 35 to 40 square feet."

He said that Habitat for Humanity builds simple homes, usually just two or three rooms, but that was luxury compared to what some of the new home owners were living in before.

"The people we met in Vajarda, Brazil, were living in a little lean-to built of sticks, mud and plastic bags," said Mr. Thompson.

"The husband was an unemployed labourer finding odd jobs. He had a young wife and a small infant. This lean-to was all they could afford until Habitat came along. Habitat had just started in the Vajarda area and we were, in fact, the first team to go there."

He said the mayor of the town was concerned about the safety of the volunteers, so he had two plain-clothed policemen watching over the group.

However, Mr. Thompson added: "I will say we never felt threatened at any time. The Vajarda area is very poor by any standard and in fact it is so poor that the Brazilian Government donate money toward Habitat constructing homes so that the home-owners can afford a new Habitat house to live in.

"Most of these people live below the poverty line on a dollar a day. There is no fresh water and they carry buckets to the nearest pond or stream."

Mr. Thompson said that one of the nice things about Habitat for Humanity was that it takes care of all the paperwork and resource gathering, ahead of time.

"You can literally get off the plane and start building the moment your feet touch the ground," he said. "That is why you can get the maximum performance. If you had to source materials it would take a lot longer."

He said there was no training offered to volunteers ahead of time. The only thing people need is a positive mindset, he said.

"You have to go with the attitude of being willing to do anything," added Mr. Thompson. "As long as you go with that approach you will get the job done. There is nothing specialised about it. It is hard work. It is also manual labour.

"You will be working with shovels, trowels, carrying block. When you get competent maybe they will let you start laying block. If you are not very comfortable going up a ladder, then we won't make you do that.

"Safety is important with the group and we make sure that everyone is comfortable."

So far, the youngest person to go with Bermuda Overseas Missions has been aged 14 and the oldest was and 85-year-old woman.

"The 85-year-old nailed and cut block," said Mr. Thompson. "She helped make and sift sand for cement."

Usually, lunch is provided on site, so as not to lose time. "We need to get the job done," said Mr. Thompson. "We prefer to have something quick on-site and eat the main meal later."

There is some sightseeing at the end of the trip. For example, in Botswana, the group visited the Okavango Delta. In Montana, they went to Yellowstone National Park.

"In Guatemala we went to Honduras which was just over the border, and we went zip lining down a mountain," he said.

The Bermuda groups are considered large by usual Habitat for Humanity standards.

"An average group that works is about 12 or 15 people," he said. "Our groups are 35-plus. When we went to Romania, we were the largest international group in Europe. Not every Habitat location can accommodate a large group."

Mr. Thompson explained that building projects are usually split into eight to ten people. "That is about the maximum number of people you want," he said. "That little unit is a good unit. You don't want to put too many people in one build.

He said the people who received Habitat for Humanity homes during the Guatemala build weren't necessarily destitute.

"They were people on the lower income level," he said. "They earn a minimum wage. They may be school teachers or labourers. Clearly, they don't earn enough money to afford decent shelter. Often they are living with family in crowded or squalid conditions. Often their health is suffering."

People on the Habitat for Humanity housing list are ranked by greatest need and in order to get a house, many people must first work on other Habitat for Humanity projects.

Once they get their house, Habitat provides them with an interest-free mortgage based on the cost to build the house.

"In Guatemala the cost to build a house was about $3,500," said Mr. Thompson. "That was a three-roomed house. It is less than most people pay in rent a month in Bermuda. The family have to pay that back. They work out an interest-free mortgage over a period of time."

But in some countries, such as Brazil, the government chips in and provides a subsidy.

"Some of these families are living on one or two dollars a day and there isn't a lot of money left for housing," said Mr. Thompson. "So it fills that need at that level.

"Habitat takes a second mortgage on the difference between the market value on the property and the value of what the family is paying.

"That is held for a number of years. That stops people from profiteering. Any money that comes in to Habitat for Humanity gets used for more properties."

Often, people who volunteer their time with Habitat for Humanity get to meet the people who will live in the house and sometimes the family work alongside the volunteers.

"They can't always spend the time, because obviously mom and dad are working to support the family," said Mr. Thompson. "But often, you really get to know the family. You develop a relationship and bond with the family."

Bermuda Overseas Missions is still deciding on its next trip, and the organisation is currently looking at several countries in Africa. Alternatively, they might go to a South American country, because it is often less expensive.

Bermuda Overseas Missions fundraises to help pay some costs for volunteers, particularly students. A trip to an African country, for example, might cost somewhere around $4,900 per person.

"As a charity we have no costs," said Mr. Thompson. "Everyone works for free, and there are no overheads.

"All we fund for is the trip costs. We offer sponsorships, particularly for students, of up to half the cost of the trip.

"But it is based on funding, which is the key. We ask the people who are looking for sponsorship, to sign something with us saying they will help us to raise the money, through things like fish-fries and bake sales."

In the last six years their fundraising efforts have been successful, but now with the economic downturn in the world economy, they are concerned about losing some corporate sponsorship.

"It is a concern to know what is going to happen this year," said Mr. Thompson. "Some of our corporate benefactors may not be giving.

"At the meeting, it was absolutely heartening to see that people are still interested. I think people recognise that it is not just giving that is tremendous, but also what you get back."

"People often look at you strangely when you talk about a 'life changing experience'," he said. "But it really is life changing. You get back so much, and have such a different outlook in life. I really hope everyone gets a chance to do an act of giving.

"Wouldn't it be great if everyone could give a little bit of their time to charity? What a different world this would be. It doesn't have to be money. It could be time. It could be doing an act of kindness. It doesn't have to be abroad. It can be here."

For more information about Bermuda Overseas Missions and Habitat for Humanity Bermuda telephone Mr. Thompson at 295-1078 or email him at david@ams.bm or visit Habitat for Humanity Bermuda at www.habitat.bm