A group of young people discovered that many of Bermuda?s homeless were just like them ? some were even children.

They discovered people sleeping in clusters of trees, parks and other places they chose not to name.

The young people were of varying ages and they belong to the Heard Chapel AME Church?s Youth Department.

A spokeswoman for the group, Dionne Tuzo, said their aim is to concentrate on those less fortunate.

?It was an eye opening experience for them, which reduced many of them to tears,? she said, ?And has thus evoked strong feelings of empathy, which has encouraged them to do even more.

?They wanted to share some love during the Christmas season and as a result they spent several Friday nights searching out homeless individuals and supplying blankets and jackets.?

The culmination of the month?s activities was two days before Christmas and the youngsters spent an entire night, from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. at Albuoy?s Point. The aim was now to really experience what it was like to be homeless in Bermuda.

?Many of them reported feelings of anger and sadness as many people passed by without asking if they needed anything,? said Ms Tuzo.

?This exercise has truly taught the youngsters a valuable lesson and they are keenly interested in continuing to work in this area. They collected pledges for this night, and the proceeds, this time, will go to the Sunshine League Children?s Home.?

The students who took part were Raisa Tuzo, 16, of United World College, Renee Simons, 19, of the University of Guelph, Nicole Simons, 16, Bermuda High School pupil, Ziare Hart, 6, of Heron Bay Primary School, Noah McHardy, 8, from Harrington Sound School, Sarai Paul, 9, Saltus Junior School, Kristen Smith,13, of CedarBridge Academy, Brittany Wilson, 13, of the Berkeley Institute, Teshay Gibbons, 22, of Kean College, and Teja Warner, 15, Lalique Simmons, 9, and Latiya Simmons, 14, of the Bermuda Institute.

The students took part in a question and answer interview about how they felt about their experiences.

?I was quite shocked to know that this is really happening where I live,? president of the Youth Group Nicole Simons said. ?I see it all the time on television, but to actually see people living in trees and cardboard boxes brought tears to my eyes and made me want to help even more.?

Renee Simons added: ?I was scared at first because most people associate homelessness in Bermuda with alcoholism or drug abuse, but we found some people who just could not afford the high rents.

?It was then that I learned to stop generalising and I realised that all of us are just one redundancy or lost job away from many of these situations. I?m glad I did this.?

Sarai Paul said when she went to give out the blankets she was scared because of the dark places they went to. ?Once we started talking to the people I felt good about being able to help,? she said.

Vice-president Raisa Tuzo was amazed that in Bermuda, one could be arrested for having no fixed abode.

?Here we have these people who simply can?t make ends meet and yet help is slow in coming,? Ms Tuzo said.

?I was nervous because I didn?t want anyone to feel offended or awkward because we were invading their space, but once we got there they were quite receptive and appreciative. It really made me cry because they are really my neighbours, just normal people, and I must be my brother?s keeper.?

Latiya Simmons had no idea there were so many homeless people in Bermuda.

?I feel like what we did definitely was not enough. More people my age should experience this.?

Zaire Hart was saddened by his experience, but he said: ?I?m happy I have a house for my mommy, daddy and baby brother.?

Nicole Simons said they found most of them sleeping rough in Hamilton. ?Many slept near the parks, near the docks and some just in trees very well disguised from the public. We found one group of about six sleeping together in a cluster of trees, but I really don?t wish to say where.?

Kristen Smith, like most Bermudians, has been to Albuoy?s Point on numerous occasions for enjoyment purposes, but she said: ?On this night it was not fun at all. Despite all the blankets and jackets I could not get warm enough.?

Teja Warner added that he was quite embarrassed to be there because he didn?t want people to really think he was homeless.

?I missed the comforts of home especially the bathroom,? he said.

Renee Simons was so miserable she just wanted to go home.

?The traffic flow there is heavy and I did not want to be stared at or whispered about,? she said. ?It was valuable though as I can be more empathetic especially to my fellow Bermudians.?

Teshay Gibbons was cold, hungry and uncomfortable and she thought that there was no way that she could survive homelessness.

?In fact I had to leave around 4 a.m., because I just could not take anymore.?

Raisa Tuzo, who has addressed the United Nations, said the Government can help by aiding places like the Salvation Army who are in the forefront when it comes to helping the underprivileged.

?They can also stop incarcerating them and start housing them,? said the teenager.

?As far as others, like churches and even individuals, go out into the streets and meet these people. Hear their stories, offer assistance where you can. We are young people and we have made just a little difference, imagine if everyone did a little something. No one should be homeless in this country.?

Brittany Wilson was under the impression that Government could build more emergency housing, more affordable housing and places where these people can go to get out of the cold and get something to eat. ?More churches could be visible and businesses could offer food in their cafeterias at night in order to give back to the community that is obviously in need of some help,? she said.

Lalique Simmons said that everyone who says that they care should help or take one of them home.

Renee Simons said the most moving aspect was just being there.

?It was a bit hard to truly feel what it?s like to be homeless because I knew I had a home to go to in the morning, but to feel what they felt and to see what they saw made me have a greater appreciation for what I do have,? she said.

Nicole Simons added that when they were instructed to truly experience what some of these people had to live on and to also beg was the most degrading thing she has ever done.

?After one rejection I gave up,? she said. ?My feelings were just hurt.?

Raisa Tuzo said some people came, stared, then whispered and did not offer any assistance.

?On some level I was angry because I just wanted to scream out, ?You see me sleeping outside, why won?t you come and ask if I need anything.? It was Christmastime, but where was the giving spirit.?

Latiya Simmons added that the entire experience was quite enough for her.

?I hope I am never in that situation. It has taught me to love my family more and to appreciate all that I have.?

Teja Warner felt very cold and his thoughts were that no one should have to endure it.

Nicole Simons said that part of their activities as a Christian Youth Group was to engage in missionary work.

?So, we will continue to take out the blankets, join with the Salvation Army to feed the homeless on some nights, and continue to raise funds to help those agencies that help others,? she said.

?I wish to thank all our leaders for encouraging us to do this.?

Raisa Tuzo felt they they only scratched the surface.

?I have had to opportunity to build houses for the homeless in New Mexico and would love to do something like that in Bermuda. But, for now, I will help out and donate where ever I can.

?There are even children out there and I cannot stand the thought of that.

?Please if anyone wants to join us, feel free. We just want to thank the members of public who made donations toward this effort either monetary, with blankets and or jackets.?