Traditional Bermudian generosity is not confined to the borders of our own country, as a group of Bermudian volunteers proved when they travelled to South Africa to help impoverished members of a small community.

Cheryl Simons, a nurse at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said she and three other local women participated in a US-based missionary volunteer programme called "Operation Reach Back''.

Every August, volunteers spend two to three weeks in different countries in Africa lending their particular talents to underprivileged people in the area.

Although past groups have helped out with sewing, reading or crafts, this group of Bermudian volunteers -- which included financial assistance officer Villa-Mae Wilson and nurses Naomi Swan and Sharon Swan -- helped with health care and food distribution.

While the three nurses did blood pressure and diabetes screenings, Ms Wilson taught remedial reading and gave Bible readings in the evening.

And the women agreed that the rewarding experience gave them an appreciation for their own circumstances.

"You've got your various social classes, but the Shanti people are living in far more deplorable conditions,'' said Cheryl Simons.

"It gets cold there, and at night they build fires to keep warm -- they have no electricity or running water,'' she added.

"We were there for slightly over two weeks and during the day, we visited the Masakhane Community Clinic in Bloemanda, Kimberley.

"To see that clinic was difficult... they didn't even have the basics that we take for granted like cough syrup, aspirin, AIDS medication and prenatal care.

"But this particular trip focused on CPR -- we certified a group of people while we were there,'' she added.

Although much of the volunteer work focused on health care, Ms Simons said members of the group collected clothing and bought food to distribute in some of the poorer areas.

"This was my very first trip to Africa, and once I knew I was going, I didn't want to go empty-handed,'' she said.

"So I contacted Valerie Petty at AS Cooper and Darren Mayo at Sports R Us, and they donated brand-new sneakers and children's clothing.

"I have a soft spot for children, and they were the ones in the greatest need so the clothes and shoes came in handy -- I was overjoyed that we were able to do something like this.

"That was my contribution... we would be driving along and see people without shoes, and we would stop and distribute what we had.'' Since Sharon Swan works at Westgate, the group had the opportunity to visit correctional facilities both in Kimberley and in nearby Bloemfontein.

Ms Simons said it was a particularly exciting day at the Kimberly prison, since it was shortly after Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday and he was releasing a number of inmates.

Ms Simons said they also had a chance to visit The Ivory Cross, a daycare facility for the blind -- and because one dollar is worth about six rand, they made financial donations everywhere they went.

"We were able to send two blind students to school to learn Braille,'' Ms Simons noted.

"But even though we spent time volunteering, part of the time was also for fun and relaxation -- and of course we couldn't go that far without going on a safari,'' she added.

Although the group was affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist church, not all the participants were Adventists.

Each of the participants paid their own airfare which was secured at a special discount rate, and people in South Africa supplied them with lodging and food.

Reaching Back: Cheryl Simons, a Bermudian volunteer participating in Operation Reach Back, distributes books and clothing at the Masakhane Community Clinic in Kimberley, South Africa.