CedarBridge Academy automotive tech students will showcase their talents at a family event at the school this month.

The Pro Shop Fair will enable them to share with the public the fruits of their labours, such as work to revamp hot rod and vintage cars.

The event aims to promote the automotive career paths available for study at the school, and will include displays by the police and fire departments, go cart displays, face painting, hair braiding and bouncy castles.

It is the first fair of its kind at the school to promote career pathways through demonstrations by the students.

Sonja Oliveira, a CedarBridge volunteer and fair committee chairwoman, said: “The automotive tech programme at the school has all these projects but we don’t get a chance to show them off.

“In this instance, we have a car that was donated to CedarBridge when the programme first started over ten years ago. It was used in the May 24 parade a few years back and was covered in flowers.

“This time we are turning it into a hot rod again, so it will be all painted up and its got a roll bar — it is really exciting. It was created with 100 per cent student vision and about 50 per cent student labour.”

The fair, sponsored by Auto Solutions, will also include a rather special display — a three-wheel disability scooter that students repaired and modified for senior Owen Lindsay. More than 20 students ages 14 to 17 are taking part in the automotive course, including one girl.

According to Ms Oliveira, the course is struggling and it is hoped the fair will bring some needed attention.

“This is one of those key programmes that has struggled to be maintained and we want to show Bermuda that there is a dire need for these core training programmes to stay in place at the high school level,” she said.

“You need to have your foot in the door to have an idea if you want to continue in that career.

“We are struggling to maintain a curriculum. If more people get behind it, it could be an even better programme.

“It could be accredited but the real vision for it is to have enough industry support to maintain it and have a career path directly from high school to final destination in the career.

“We are hoping this will become an annual event and each year there will be a different school department that will benefit from the funding whether it be in the arts, heath and beauty. It will get young people in to see that there is a career path available through CedarBridge and the Government’s Career Pathway programme through CedarBridge and Berkeley Institute.”

The fair takes place at CedarBridge Academy from 10am to 5pm on November 28. Admission is $4 for adults or $2 for children.