A local group of hardworking volunteers built homes for the less fortunate in Eastern Europe and later saw their work documented by international television, newspaper and radio stations.

A diverse group of 50 Bermudians, ranging in age from 12 to 81, travelled to Romania as part of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and dedicated two weeks to building homes for families in need.

?It went fantastically well and from just a slab of concrete foundation we built four houses in two weeks,? volunteer Lynne Winfield said. ?We apparently were the second largest HFHI group ever to do something like this world-wide and consequently interviewed by television crews, radio crews, photographers and journalists and made national papers and radio. Not only that, Habitat filmed a mini documentary about our visit?.

Ms Winfield told a team of Romanian journalists had even devoted a day to HFHI and helped the group by plastering walls, insulation and doing other odd jobs at the site.

The group had no idea they would be met with such a large interest; nonetheless, the publicity was beneficial in raising awareness for the non-profit organisation.

Since its founding in 1976, HFHI has dedicated itself to eliminating homelessness world-wide and to provide safe and affordable housing to people in need. Today they have built and rehabilitated more than 200,000 houses in 80 countries.

The houses built were ?tiny? and consisted of two small bedrooms, a family area, a shower-stall bathroom and a kitchen no bigger than a walk-in closet.

Despite the modest size of the homes, Ms Winfield recalled how wonderful it was to see the joy on the home owners? faces.

?When you see what it means for the families - that is the inspirational part. I think this world is so divided at the moment that reaching out to people outside of one?s own country is a way to reach understanding,? she said.

When asked why she decided to volunteer, she said she had wanted to do it for years: ?I understand how fortunate I am living in such a lovely country, and bringing up my children in such a lovely country, I am blessed?.

Trip organiser David Thompson, president of Bermuda Overseas Missions, is described as a ?miracle-worker? by Ms Winfield as he was both patient and upbeat throughout the trip.

He was ?terrific throughout the trip, always smiling, encouraging us and ensuring we were safe and comfortable,? she said.

While Mr. Thompson admitted he was a little apprehensive of the task at first, with a common goal in mind the group was able to get the homes built.

?I would say it went better than expected,? he said. ?It was a superb trip. A wonderful group of people built four houses and helped to build a fifth.?

The trip had been an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows but in the end it was all worthwhile: ?It?s hard to think when you have made someone?s dream come true. You give them hope where there was no hope before,? he said.

All the work had to be done by hand, so the group hauled material, mixed cement, constructed frames, did carpentry work, put floors in, the roofs up and installed windows and doors until the homes were completed.

When asked about the work, Mr. Thompson replied: ?It was a lot of hard work there is no question about it - I am used to sitting in a nice air conditioned office behind computers.

Before the group departed from Bermuda, many people also took part in fund raisers to fund the trip, buy materials for the homes, as well as help some young people from De Boys Day Out and the Boy Scout Movement attend.

Boy scout 17-year-old Adio Robinson, who was sponsored by the Fairmont Southampton, said: ?At first I was going on a trip. I really didn?t think much of it until I met the families and seen that this is real. And I am not here to have jokes, it?s about helping somebody out so they could be close to living like you.?

While the average earning for a Romanian is $53 dollars a month, the average cost of a small house is $43,000, causing a housing crisis where many families have to cram together in small rooms.

The trip was a reality check for Mr. Robinson, who recalled seeing a family living in a house which resembled a jail cell. ?It was only five by ten and there were four people staying in the house, two on the floor and two on the couch,? he said.

Mr. Robinson said building the homes was ?like putting together a puzzle because they had all the walls made already, we just had to connect them?.

The most challenging part of the experience for him was ?not being able to stop. Our last week there, everyone was going and trying to finish these houses so at least we could say that they would have somewhere to live by Christmas?.

Families who apply for a HFHI home are required to work 100 hours a month on the home until it is complete and thereafter they pay a monthly fee of $40, as part of an interest-free, 20 year mortgage, which greatly eases the financial pressure.

?The overall two week experience was exciting - to know that these houses are going to someone who is really going to appreciate it,? Mr. Robinson said.

Romania currently has a project in action to build 26 houses in two years, and the Bermudian team?s work for HFHI put them three months ahead of schedule.