A team of volunteers from the Bermuda Institute have headed for the Dominican Republic on a ten-day mission to build schools and churches in the Caribbean nation.

The school said a group of nearly 50 students, teachers and parents left on a flight to Santo Domingo, the capital, on Thursday.

The mission, first planned for Peru in 2020, was put on hold by the pandemic.

But now the school has renewed its pledge to take pupils on short-term missions every other year.

The school teamed with the Christian charity Maranatha Volunteers International, which helps to connect volunteers with communities in need.

Maranatha also co-ordinates the building of facilities such as churches and schools.

Outreach by the Bermuda team will include a Bible school as well as construction of the church and school.

Student teams have built schools in the Dominican Republic before, as well as in Panama.

This group was said to be “excited and is looking forward to serving the Santo Domingo community, as well as learning about their culture”.

“These types of projects align with the school’s curriculum and our students’ desire to help others.

“We believe that these short-term mission trips can and most often lead to a life-changing experience for all participants.”