A showcase of the latest hands-on learning opportunities is to be followed up by a fair later this year, the national security minister announced today.

Wayne Caines said organisers of January’s Youth Maker Showcase at CedarBridge Academy — part of the Parent Expo — were keen to continue the momentum with an “official Maker Faire”.

He added: “My hat goes off to the team at the Department of ICT Policy and Innovation along with the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative for organising this showcase.

“They both wish to continue the momentum created by this event by offering an official Maker Faire later in the year, and I look forward to attending what promises to be a great activity in the not too distant future.”

Mr Caines explained that “makers” are people who create, build, design, tinker, modify, hack, invent, or simply make something.

He added: “Through their work building and inventing, they make things that have the power to change the world.”

Mr Caines said about 200 pupils and parents learnt about programmes that “encourage Bermuda’s young people to embrace innovation and harness their imagination and creativity” at the showcase.

He added that 25 schools and community organisations took part in the event on January 20 to demonstrate their hands-on activities.

They included the Department of Education’s STEAM Academy, the FIRST Global Robotics Team Bermuda, ConnecTech, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Saltus Computer Science Department, and Bermuda High School’s Do-It-Yourself Club.

Mr Caines said: “Together, they formed an impressive mix of the work of schools, government entities and community organisations whose only aim that day was to provide parents and students with an opportunity to be introduced to the latest in Do-It-Yourself learning opportunities that expose the youth to creative learning while building character.

“What one saw in the room was the latest in innovative tools and education coming together to offer alternative methods for learning not only to benefit Bermuda, but to benefit mankind.

“It is always gratifying to see when we as a country get things right. These activities are something that every person in this country can be proud of.”

• To read Mr Caines’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”