Bermuda Overseas Missions prepares for Volunteer Trip to Bolivia

On July 23rd 20 volunteers from Bermuda Overseas Missions (“BOM”) will be heading to Cochabamba, Bolivia to build houses in support of Habitat for Humanity.

This is the 14th overseas trip for BOM and this year’s volunteers will include a diverse range of Bermudians including 12 students from Berkeley, Cedarbridge Academy and Warwick Academy, as well as youth representatives from the Sunshine League and the Beyond Rugby programme.

In support of this years trip the BOM volunteers have conducted numerous fundraising activities including, corporate denim days, selling rotis, marshalling a triathlon and the annual fish fry.

And according to BOM President David Thompson it is the annual fish fry dinner that has become the most popular BOM fund-°©-raising event – “This year’s Fish Fry takes place on July 4th and is wonderfully prepared by Keith’s Kitchen. Once again we will be at Christ Church, Warwick and serving a big plate of fish, fries, coleslaw, a desert and a cold drink – all for $20.00. Stay and enjoy your dinner in the Church Hall or take a platter of fish out with you! Last year over 800 dinners were sold and all the funds were contributed to help underwrite the volunteer’s trips. This event draws people from all over our island community who support BOM and we are very thankful to everyone who comes out and supports this special event”.

Cochabamba is located high in the Andes Mountains and is Bolivia’s fourth largest city with a population of almost 2 million. Historically, the city developed as an agricultural centre to provide food to the economically important mining operations that thrived in this area. Cochabamba is commonly referred to as the “granary of Bolivia” and is only 1,200 miles south of the equator.

The Bermuda BOM contingent will join volunteers from other parts of the world who will help provide adequate shelter for needy families. Volunteers will work closely with a designated partner family and the volunteers will use honeycomb bricks to build a simple, functional house.

In addition to the hard work local volunteers will also sample unique Bolivian delights and cultural experiences including enjoying delicious native cuisine, a night of dancing and visiting one of the largest markets in South America.

Mr Thompson added “BOM continues to work closely with the islands corporate community and is particularly thankful for the on-°©-going support of Validus Holdings Ltd., Catlin Bermuda Ltd., PartnerRe Ltd. and CellOne who have generously supported this trip.”