Bermuda Sloop Foundation executive director Denise Riviere has dubbed a service mission to poverty-stricken Haiti as a “life-changing journey”.Earlier this month 27 young Bermudians, ages 14 to 34, embarked on the service mission to assist BSF’s partners Feed My Lambs Ministry.Feed My Lambs Ministry is based and registered in Haiti. The charity, which was founded by Bermudian Phillip Lamb, is also registered in the USA and Bermuda.The group that travelled to the Caribbean country assisted with the construction of a school and health clinic at Feed My Lambs Ministry Orphanage located in the coastal town of Montrouis.“While at the orphanage, each group assisted with the construction of a 12-classroom school and clinic, helped in the all day task of washing orphans’ clothing and caring for the younger children and taking food and clothes to residents living in the mountains,” Ms Riviere said.The group that travelled to Haiti was divided into two. One group flew to Haiti on July 2 while the remaining group sailed down on BSF’s purpose -built sail training schooner, Spirit of Bermuda.The group that flew down sailed back to Bermuda and vice versa. Both groups were due back at the weekend.While on the 118-foot sloop Spirit of Bermuda, that sailed in the experimental Spirit of Tradition Class during this year’s Newport Bermuda Race, trainees experienced BSF’s character development programme.“They were responsible for sailing around the clock, cleaning the ship and participating in the educational components taught by historian, Dr Clarence Maxwell,” Ms Riviere said. “When going to and from Bermuda, Spirit of Bermuda stopped in Turks & Caicos and enjoyed learning expeditions relevant to Bermuda’s history.“It is no doubt that the voyage and time in Haiti was experiential learning at its best.”During the mission Dr Maxwell conducted research on the relationship between Bermuda and the French Caribbean islands. He also developed an intriguing curriculum for those participating in the mission.On the voyage to and from the Caribbean all crew members on Spirit of Bermuda had the opportunity to navigate the triple-masted sloop that took part in the OpSail 2012 in Yorktown and Norfolk, Virginia last June.The OpSail 2012 is a major tall ships and naval rally and port festival celebrating the War of 1812 by declaration of the US Congress.Both Norfolk and Yorktown have strong historical ties to Bermuda dating from the 18th century and the American Revolution.