STUDENTS at CedarBridge Academy learned a real-life lesson in the finer points of good service when they operated a two-day project called the Island Breeze Caf? at their Devonshire school.

Run in collaboration with the Bermuda Alliance for Tourism, the object of the programme was to introduce Bermudian students to the skills and knowledge that could one day help them to work in the restaurant industry.

The temporary caf? was operated by students who have been taught the basic knowledge required to operate such an establishment in a programme run by Karen Edwards-Simmons, instructional Leader of Family Studies / Design & Technology, Meal Management and Hospitality teacher at CedarBridge.

The caf? served drinks and refreshments to several VIPs ? including Community & Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler ? and executive director of BAT, Wayne Smith, praised Mrs. Edwards-Simmons' initiative in launching the programme.

"She has a tremendous amount of experience in education, food and beverage management, (and) some experience in the hospitality service industry as well." Mr. Smith said. "She's an outstanding teacher, I've seen her first hand, she does an outstanding job."

The whole operation was made possible by donations from several corporations and individuals, specifically Bridget Marshall of Edgehill Manor, Wyman Lindsay from the Reefs Hotel, Minister Dale Butler of the MEF Group, and Jay Correia of the Swizzle Inn Restaurants.

For around half a term students have learned how to handle themselves and how to prepare the food they would be serving, after which they were given the temporary restaurant to run for themselves on Wednesday and Thursday.

"I believe that this is an incredible opportunity. It gives the students there a sense of ownership and responsibility, it empowers them," Mr. Smith said.

Tourism industry insiders hope the project may be a step forward in populating the restaurant and hospitality industry with more Bermudian workers. At present, the industry is an amalgam of nationalities, sparsely populated by Bermudians.

"When people go to say, Barbados, they expect to be served by Barbadians, and the same goes for Bermuda." Mr. Smith said. "But what we can do right now is not to try to make the entire industry Bermudian, but to teach those working in the industry the 'Bermudian Way' such as the importance of saying 'good morning', or 'good afternoon.

"Even if the students who go through this programme don't go into the food and beverage, or hospitality industry, it gives them skills they can use all their lives.

"Everybody is going to throw a dinner party some time in their lives, and the basic knowledge on how to serve them is there," Mr. Smith added.

With a meagre 49 per cent of 154 students getting their Bermuda School Certificate (BSC) in 2004, the idea of teaching students these skills is undeniably helpful.

"The potential in this programme is enormous." Mr. Smith said. "What would be even better is if CedarBridge turned the concept into a full-time caf? over the summer, giving more students the chance to make money and have a full-time job over their vacation ? and the chance to refine skills beneficial to them throughout their lives."