Bermudians know better than most the devastation a single hurricane can bring.

That is why a local group, Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) Bermuda is holding a concert this Saturday to raise money for Bangladesh people recovering from last November's terrible hurricane.

Hurricane Sidr struck Bangladesh on November 17, 2007. Thanks to improved early warning systems in the country, the death toll was relatively low at around 3,000 people, but an estimated four million people had their livelihood affected through ruined crops, lost fishing boats, and total home destruction.

The ANCOP GK Fundraising Concert will feature multi-award winning Canadian-Filipina singer Joey Albert, Bermuda Idol 2007 Larrita Adderly, Bermuda Teen Idol 2007 Lauren Easton and students from Mount Saint Agnes Academy and Dellwood Middle School.

There will also be performances by D Bliss Dancers and G3 Dancers. Music will be a mixture and will include rock & roll, love songs and inspirational songs.

ANCOP International Bermuda is a Catholic charity that works under the umbrella of a larger organisation in Canada. There are chapters of ANCOP around the world.

Under their Gawad Kalinga (giving care) programme, GK777, the group aims to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years.

"It is the miraculous revolution presently transforming the Philippines from a nation of slums to a peaceful, clean and beautiful community," said ANCOP International Bermuda vice president Mot Saliba-Parayaoan. ANCOP International Bermuda is a registered charity that was set up locally last summer.

It was launched through the premier of the movie Paradise, made to highlight the plight of the poor in the Philippines. Some of the concert money will go to ANCOP International projects in the Philippines and in Bermuda.

"Here we will be targeting those charities that are not very well-funded," said Ms Saliba-Parayaoan. "Most of the time we do equity work, meaning we do it ourselves or contract with someone. Most of it is a family affair. So far we have built a Bermuda village in the Philippines. It is a cluster of homes."

She said that ANCOP International is a growing multi-sectoral partnership driven by a vision of a new Philippines with 'No More Slums'.

"There are three levels of transformation that takes place in the lives of those that GK touches," said Ms Saliba-Parayaoan. "The first level is restoring their dignity and hope, second is the physical transformation from slums and shanties to Bermuda-colourful houses and third is the community development.

"We offer livelihood programmes. And we also have a child sponsorship programme. For just a dollar a day we can help to send a child to school to prepare for a better future."

The concert will be on March 29 at 7.30 pm at The Berkeley Institute Auditorium.

Tickets are $60 or $80 for patrons. For further information telephone 799-6659, 332-1221 or 505-2527.

Tickets can also be purchased at Bermuda Drums Institute inside Cedar Parkade Mall in front of the Bus Terminal.