Seven young Bermudians have returned from “life-changing” 10-week trips overseas to help others less fortunate.

The selfless volunteers jetted off to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Tanzania and Borneo to help with vital sustainability projects.

These included installing gravity-fed water systems in remote villages, assisting farmers with protecting their crops and helping to build a school.

Yin’Nikkei Bartley, 19, a graduate of CedarBridge Academy, and Kalaeb Tannock, 17, a graduate of the Berkeley Institute, were in Tanzania. Zakiya Lightbourne, 18, a CedarBridge graduate, and DJ Stovell, 19, who went to Bermuda College, travelled to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

In Borneo were Bermuda College student Raekwon Hare, 19; Chloe Baron, 23, who has an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Waterloo University; and Neville Vanderpool, 24, who has two university degrees and, like most of his fellow adventurers, is actively looking for employment.

Giving up their summers to make life better for others was a “magical, adventurous, amazing” experience — but also a remarkable journey of self-discovery, bonding and personal development.

“I don’t take anything for granted anymore,” Zakiya said. “I used to walk with attitude, I judged people without getting to know them.

“But being away, I didn’t get the chance to judge. Everyone was so nice and I learnt that not everyone is out to get me.”

Chloe said it had been hard for her to deal with change but when in Borneo “I took what life threw at me”.

“I’m more flexible than I thought I was,” Neville said, while DJ found he was “more capable than I thought”.

“I’m more hard-working, more motivated, more sociable,” he added.

Kalaeb said he previously “didn’t have enough enthusiasm to work” but was now always eager to be busy and had started working with his dad.

Yin’Nikkei’s journey to Tanzania showed her she was “much stronger than I thought” and that she loves volunteering. Part of her adventure included helping farmers safeguard their land from elephants by using beehives to scare them off.

The youngsters went overseas with Raleigh Bermuda, a funded personal development programme for Bermudians between the ages of 17 and 25.

Participants are encouraged to work together regardless of social background and culture, and the programme is designed to challenge them to exceed their aspirations, believe in themselves and be inspired to make the world a better place.

They train for months ahead of their 10-week expedition, developing teamwork, survival skills and self-confidence, and once abroad work with youth volunteers from across the world to improve the lives of those in need.

Raleigh Bermuda pays for the participants — about $11,500 per person — although this year they each raised at least $500 on their own.

“A highlight for me was meeting new people, experiencing different cultures — I’d only been to the US before,” said Kalaeb, who was involved in building a school.

DJ, like most of the group, said his favourite moment was seeing how much work his team accomplished — he helped to dig a trench to install a water system for a remote community.

All of the youngsters faced challenges — from Zakiya missing her mother to Kalaeb yearning for the ocean amid the plains of Africa. And all of them learned not to take luxuries — like clean, running water — for granted.

Now they are back in Bermuda, they are all determined to keep volunteering and are keen to give back to the Island.

They will all remain involved with Raleigh and help the next batch of recruits prepare for their expeditions.

“I’m also going to speak to children at my school and be a mentor,” Zakiya said.

Yin’Nikkei is helping out at this weekend’s ‘Tiaras and Bow Ties’ father-daughter event “doing the girls’ fingernails”.

All of the participants praised the Raleigh experience and encouraged any interested youths to take part.

“If you don’t do it to be a volunteer, do it for yourself, for self-development,” DJ said. “You learn a lot about yourself.”

To read blogs from Raleigh’s volunteers abroad visit raleighinternational.org/ri-blogs. For more on Raleigh Bermuda visit www.raleigh.bm or visit their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/raleighbermuda