Sanzia Pearman dedicated her seventh birthday presents to some children who need them more than she does.

The youngster, who enjoyed a party at Fairmont Southampton yesterday, asked her friends to donate their gifts to poor families in Haiti instead of herself.

They obliged with crayons, pencils, colouring books, writing pads and all manner of things that will improve the lives of young people on the poverty stricken Caribbean island.

Sanzia said she had been moved to help after seeing The Royal Gazette report some Haitian children were so hungry they'd resorted to eating mud pies.

Asked why she had given up her presents, Sanzia said: "Because I get nice things a lot so I wanted to be able to give something to them. Because they are less fortunate than me and they are really hungry."

Proud mother Roxanne Pearman said: "It's good because I wanted to her to do something for other people."

Sanzia's good will was inspired by the charity work of Bermudian businessman Phillip Rego, who gave up his business to concentrate on helping children in countries such as Haiti, Peru and Kenya.

Mr. Rego, who spent Christmas building a roof at a children's shelter in Peru and handing out toys to the needy, has made a number of trips to Haiti in the past year.

Praising Sanzia for her unselfishness, he said: "This touches me. Everything that has been donated, they can use in Haiti. "Can you imagine some selfless person saying: 'Let's forget about my day and help out with Haiti?' That's amazing."

Anyone who would like to help should e-mail Mr. Rego at: feedmylambsministry@gmail.com, telephone 535-8934 or donate directly to the charity's Bank of Bermuda account: 010305498012.