Últimas Notícias
More than 380 young people are already benefiting from the “Cheque-Livro Açores”
2025-12-15
More than 380 young people are already benefiting from the “Cheque-Livro Açores”
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20846956
The Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, has already issued more than 380 “Book Checks” to young people residing in the Azores aged 18, in an approved global investment of 38 thousand euros and more than 390 approved sales. For the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, this is an “expressive” adherence to an unprecedented measure in the Region to “encourage young people to reinforce their portfolio of skills and knowledge through reading and printed books”. Each “Açores Book Check” has a value of 100 euros for the purchase of physical books in bookstores or establishments that sell participating books, and can be used in different purchases and establishments during a period of one year from the date of issuance. Young people's applications for the “Cheque-Livro Açores” must be formalized on the Youth Portal, at loja.azores.gov.pt, between the day the young person turns 18 years old and the day before their 19th birthday. The “Cheque-Livro Açores”, in digital format, is personal and non-transferable. The amount of the book/s purchased with the “Cheque-Livro Açores” is reimbursed by the Regional Government to bookstores, booksellers and establishments selling books that adhere to the measure and that are identified on the Azores Youth portal. Young people residing on islands without entities adhering to the measure can purchase books from intermediary entities, which are responsible for selling digitally and shipping the books. The costs of sending the books are paid directly to the intermediary entities, and are not deducted from the beneficiary's balance of the “Cheque-Livro Açores”. The “Cheque-Livro Açores” is part of the “+Jovem” package, an unprecedented initiative in the Region for young residents, which includes “Regressa a Casa” or the “Salary Enhancement Measure”.
REDES Program with youth volunteering projects in the Region
2025-12-10
REDES Program with youth volunteering projects in the Region
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20794457
More than 90 young people living in the Azores have already applied to the REDES – Regional Youth Volunteer Network program, with 44 young people having already been placed. Applications for this program from the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, implemented through the Regional Directorate for Youth, take place during an open period for young people and entities at juventude.azores.gov.pt. All young people already placed in REDES opted for regular volunteering projects, lasting three to nine months, in institutions or associations with activities in the areas of culture, social inclusion, sport, environment, health and prevention of risk behaviors, social support for children, young people, the elderly and people with disabilities, animal welfare, among other areas of action. Young people involved in regular volunteering projects are awarded a monthly grant of up to 180 euros, for a total of 1,620 euros, if the young person completes nine months of volunteering. REDES also includes a modality for short-term volunteer projects. In this modality, which includes volunteering to renovate a house or collect animals, for example, projects last from one to five days, for a total of 25 hours. Young people benefit from a support grant totaling between 21 euros and 75 euros. Entities with approved projects, the description of the projects and the number of vacancies are identified and available for consultation at https://juventude.azores.gov.pt/programa/redes/, through which young people interested in volunteering can propose their candidacy. Currently, 21 applications from entities have been approved for 31 vacancies in regular volunteering projects in São Miguel, Pico, Terceira, Graciosa and São Jorge, and nine applications from entities for 31 vacancies in short-term projects in São Miguel, Pico and Terceira. REDES is aimed at young people residing in the Azores, aged between 15 and 28 years old at the date of submission of the application, and aims to promote opportunities for the development of personal and technical skills, as well as for the exercise of active and supportive citizenship in activities that contribute to their communities. Youth associations and youth associations, student associations registered in the Azorean Register of Youth Associations can apply for volunteer projects; public entities; IPSS, sports clubs or other non-governmental and civil society organizations with projects aligned with the program areas. REDES - Regional Youth Volunteer Network was announced in June this year by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, in Lajes do Pico, on the island of Pico. Maria João Carreiro, on the occasion, explained that the objective of the Government of the Azores with this new program is to “affirm the importance of volunteering for the development and personal, social and civic training of young people”, therefore calling for good adherence and participation by entities in offering volunteer projects that can add value to institutions and young people.
Youth associations in the Azores with public support of more than 816 thousand euros
2025-11-16
Youth associations in the Azores with public support of more than 816 thousand euros
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20514458
Youth associations registered in the Azorean Register of Youth Associations benefited, between 2024 and 2025, from regional public support in a global amount exceeding 816 thousand euros, said the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, at the inauguration of the management building of the Casa do Escuteiro complex, of the National Listening Corps, in Ponta Delgada. This support, granted within the scope of the Incentive System for the Development of Youth Associative Activity (SIDAAJ), allowed investments in the execution of the activity plans of youth associations, as well as in equipment and headquarters or in additional activities, such as the organization and participation in training activities, stated Maria João Carreiro. “More than proclaiming and evoking the importance of associations, this Government of the Azores works to encourage and awaken the action of youth associations”, he said. The Regional Secretary highlighted the “good example” of the National Scout Corps, which between 2024 and 2025 applied for 84 projects to develop with children and young scouts, whose implementation and execution the Region contributed with an investment of more than 50 thousand euros. To this amount, there are 82 thousand euros in public support, in the same period, for investment in equipment, headquarters and additional activities, as well as the 50 thousand euros allocated through the Regional Youth Directorate for the Casa do Escuteiro, “an infrastructure that symbolizes the commitment to training children and young people to exercise responsible citizenship and committed to collective well-being”, he valued. Currently, 28 youth or similar associations are registered in the Azorean Register of Youth Associations, which means 14 more associations compared to the number registered in 2019. “In the Azores, youth associations are alive and recommended”, praised the Regional Secretary. More than a number, “this growth clearly testifies to the interest and commitment of young people and the confidence in a policy that invites young people to organize themselves around their interests and needs and to participate in the construction of a plural, inclusive and sustainable society”, he said. For 2026, the Government of the Azores increased the global amount of financing available so that youth associations can implement and execute their activity plans. In total, there are 170 thousand euros, which represents an increase of around 90 thousand euros compared to public funding in 2019. In the proposed Plan and Budget for 2026, which will be considered and voted on at the end of this month in the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, proposes to invest two million euros next year “in programs that promote a culture of personal investment by young people in their civic and professional training”.
Interjovem Card holders with interisland air travel for 21 euros during the month of December
2025-11-14
Interjovem Card holders with interisland air travel for 21 euros during the month of December
https://www.cartaointerjovem.com/
By Order from the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, young holders of the Interjovem Card can benefit from inter-island air travel for 21 euros, round trip, or 15 euros, one way, operated by SATA Air Açores.
These values are valid for trips made between December 1st and 31st, as part of the Interjovem Card's special Christmas campaign, a month in which “there is an increase in trips by young students returning to their island of origin”, notes the government official.
"During this period, initiatives related to the Christmas season also proliferate on the different islands. In this sense, the improvement of the advantages offered by the Interjovem Card, during this festive season, contributes to greater mobility of young people between islands", he adds.
Maria João Carreiro explains that “the Interjovem Card offers more mobility to young people”, following the program contract between the Region, Atlânticoline S.A. and SATA Air Açores that allows, among other advantages throughout the year, to create specific commercial campaigns that are more advantageous for young people.
The Interjovem Card is an initiative by the Government of the Azores to promote youth mobility in the archipelago, associated with commercial advantages and discounts, and is aimed at young people born or resident in the Azores, as well as young Azores descendants registered on the “Açorianos no Mundo” platform, aged between 13 and 30.
Since 2021, several improvements and advantages have been implemented to add value to the ownership and use of the Interjovem Card, such as the 20% discount on the Azores Tariff, that is, at most young people pay 48 euros on an inter-island air trip (round trip), with the same booking conditions as the Azores Tariff being guaranteed for the Interjovem Tariff.
The Interjovem Card can be purchased on the website https://www.cartaointerjovem.com or on the new APP for mobile devices, and payment can be made via MBWay or Credit Card, through the RIAC payment platform.
The Interjovem Card, which is promoted through the Regional Youth Directorate, has more than 100 partnerships on all islands in the Region, guaranteeing a minimum of 10% discount on the services offered by partners to Card holders.
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20300443
2025-10-26
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20300443
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20300443
Youth associations registered in the Azorean Register of Youth Associations will be able to access, in 2026, a global amount of financing of 170 thousand euros for the implementation and execution of their activity plans, under the terms of the Dispatch from Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, published today in the Official Journal.
This amount represents an increase of 20 thousand euros in relation to the amount approved for the current year within the scope of the Support Program for Activity Plans of the Incentive System for the Development of Youth Associative Activity (SIDAAJ).
Applications must be submitted using an electronic form available on the portal juventude.azores.gov.pt, from November 1st to December 15th, for youth associations, and from November 1st to January 15th, 2026, for student associations.
“The financing available for next year expands the material conditions and resources so that each youth association can achieve more, with more quality and with even more impact”, highlights Maria João Carreiro.
The Regional Secretary reaffirms the commitment of the Government of the Azores to “strengthening the youth association movement”, highlighting that youth associations develop an “essential mission not only for the defense and affirmation of the interests of young people, but also for the training and qualification of young people themselves to exercise active and constructive citizenship, that is, a citizenship that wants to be part of the solution and not just watch the challenges”.
The publication of the Order that establishes the maximum amount of financing for the activities of young associations takes place at output of InterAj - Training Workshop for Youth Associations, which took place from the 24th to the 26th of October, on the island of Faial, bringing together more than 50 association leaders and representatives of youth associations.
This annual meeting of youth associations, promoted through the Regional Youth Directorate, had as its theme for reflection “Associative Leadership and Sustainability”.
During InterAj, participants had the opportunity to participate in workshops on “Administrative and Financial Management in Youth Associations”, “Leadership and Development Strategies for Youth Associations” and “Innovation in Youth Associations”.
The new SIDAAJ, regulated in 2023 by the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government, includes more financing, more eligible expenses and more time for applications, in addition to providing for the financing of projects co-organized by two or three associations and biannual financing for projects lasting two years.
More than 750 children and young people join the Entrepreneurial Academy – School of Leaders
2025-10-22
More than 750 children and young people join the Entrepreneurial Academy – School of Leaders
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20247254
More than 750 Azorean children and young people are registered in the 2025/2026 edition of the Entrepreneurial Academy – School of Leaders, said this Tuesday, at the Ilha Graciosa Cultural Center, in Santa Cruz, the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro. At the opening of the 5th edition of this non-formal education program for children and young people of school age for entrepreneurship, promoted through the Regional Youth Directorate, the governor confirmed that among those enrolled are students from all education cycles, including Professional Education, from more than 40 entities, such as schools, IPSS and the Ponta Delgada Prison. The number of participants could also increase, due to the start of the university edition of this program and its extension to young inmates at the Angra do Heroísmo Prison, whose protocol for its implementation should be signed soon, he said. “The Entrepreneurial Academy is a program that believes that the new generations will be able to make things happen, instead of waiting for things to happen”, praised Maria João Carreiro, highlighting that “the personal and social circumstances of each young person are not and cannot be a fatality, but rather an opportunity for transformation, growth and integration”, she argued. Since the 2021/2022 academic year, more than 6,000 young people from all the islands and 142 technical insertion teachers have participated in the four editions of Academia Empreendedora – Escola de Líderes, “which leads us to believe that this program is already a milestone among young Azoreans”, he praised. During the academic year, participants at Academia Empreendedora – Escola de Líderes develop a training program in skills for entrepreneurship appropriate to their level of education and aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN). Among the activities carried out are initiatives such as “Empreendedor Por Um Dia”, “Mercadinhos de Natal” and the “Local Ideas Competition”, which stamps the passport of the winning teams for the I9.Açores – Academia Jovem de Ideias Inovadoras. "The journey of this Academy tells us that each of the participants carries an idea, a dream, a desire to do something new. This is what entrepreneurship seeks to awaken: the confidence that it is possible to create one's own path, even with uncertainty", he praised. Maria João Carreiro therefore expressed confidence in “another successful edition that will leave seeds, concerns and a confident attitude among the participants”, remembering that this program was created to encourage the protagonism of children and young people, offer practical tools and develop essential skills such as leadership, teamwork, project management and innovation. “Entrepreneurship is not just opening a business: it is having attitude, creativity and courage to do things differently, to generate impact and contribute to a better society”, he stressed. Participating in the opening session of the 2025/2026 edition of Academia Empreendedora – Escola de Líderes were the Mayor of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, António Reis, the deputy to the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, Adolfo Vasconcelos, and the Regional Director of Youth (DRJ), Eládio Braga. The session, which started with two musical moments with Artistic Education students from Escola Secundária da Graciosa, Afonso Albuquerque and Íris Olaio, also included a conversation, moderated by DRJ, with former participants from Academia Empreendedora – Escola de Líderes Rita Gil, Íris Olaio and Luana Veiga. The Academia Empreendedora program, in which the Region invests around 150 thousand euros annually, includes two subprograms. Academia Empreendedora – Escola de Líderes covers all educational cycles, from the 1st cycle to Secondary Education, through Professional Education, IPSS and Higher Education, with a university edition, with the program being suitable for each level of education and aligned with 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Entrepreneurial Academy – Activate Your Potential is aimed at the young population incarcerated in Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroísmo Prisons.
InterAj 2025 – Training Workshop for Youth Associations from October 24th to 26th on the island of Faial
2025-10-15
InterAj 2025 – Training Workshop for Youth Associations from October 24th to 26th on the island of Faial
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=20172830
More than 50 association leaders and representatives of youth associations in the Region will gather at InterAj 2025 – Training Workshop for Youth Associations, from October 24th to 26th, at the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center, on the island of Faial. This annual initiative promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, provides an opportunity for youth dialogue and reflection on the challenges and opportunities of youth associations, with this year's theme being “Associative Leadership and Sustainability”. InterAj 2025 kicks off on Friday, October 24th, with the opening session, chaired by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, followed by the panel “Associativism: the challenges of leadership and the drive for success”, moderated by Mariana Marques, General Director of the YUPI Association. Participating in this panel are Eládio Braga, Regional Youth Director; Ricardo Sousa, President of the Board of Directors of Cooperativa Synergia Portugal; Maria Marques, Trainer and Consultant in Project Management and Financial Management; and António Gomes, Director of the Check-in Association and President of Cooperativa Compacting. On the second day of InterAj's work, association leaders and representatives of youth associations in the Region will participate in workshops on “Administrative and Financial Management in Youth Associations”, “Leadership and Development Strategies for Youth Associations” and “Innovation in Youth Associations”. The program also includes sessions to present financing programs and the working session “Participation and Collaboration in Youth Associations”, with Gustavo Briz, educator and trainer in national and international public and youth participation, as well as the presentation of the conclusions of this regional meeting. InterAj is an annual event to support and dialogue with young Azoreans, through their representative associations, assuming added importance for the exchange of experiences and the training of youth association leaders in the Region.
Young Azoreans winners of the i9.Açores in entrepreneurship mission in Barcelona
2025-09-08
Young Azoreans winners of the i9.Açores in entrepreneurship mission in Barcelona
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=19794403
The Azorean students winning of the I9.Açores - Youth Academy of Innovative Ideas 2025 regional contest now end an entrepreneurship mission in Barcelona, Spain. This mission started on Thursday, September 4, and aimed to enable the contact of young students with different entrepreneurial realities, as well as including a pedagogical aspect, which allowed them to know entrepreneurs and local projects, and a cultural component, through the visit to some of the city's main sights. During the entrepreneurship mission participants visited Dfactory Barcelona, one of Europe's biggest hubs in technology and innovation, where students have had the opportunity to understand how cutting -edge projects are shaping the future in areas such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing and robotics. This was followed by a visit to Estrella Damm, a historic brand with over 145 years of tradition, where participants have discovered how tradition and authenticity can walk side by side with innovation and internationalization. A living lesson on brand identity and consistency over time. At TBS Education, an international school that forms leaders with global vision, students and teachers have had direct contact with a different way of thinking about education, where internationalization, creativity and preparation for the challenges of the future are at the center of academic experience. The cultural program also included tours through the Gothic neighborhood, Las Ramblas, Park Güell and Sagrada Familia. In this mission participated Azorean students and their teachers who were part of the 2024/2025 edition of the Entrepreneur Academy, through which they were selected to participate with their innovative ideas and projects in the i9.Açores, which came out winners in the different categories to contest. From the 2nd cycle of Basic Education participate Miguel Gago da Câmara and Vicente Tavares, accompanied by Professor Guida Medeiros, from the Capelas Integrated Elementary School, in Ponta Delgada, winners of i9. From the 3rd cycle participates the student Pedro Dias and Professor Maria Helena Dias, from Domingos Rebelo Secondary School, in Ponta Delgada, authors of the winning project “CameliaesSencis”. Secondary education participates in the mission of entrepreneurship in Barcelona the students Iara Silva and Beatriz Teles, guided by Professor Letícia Leal, Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Praia da Vitória - CDIJ Fortis, authors of the winning project “Praia by Boat”. Vocational education participates Tomás Teixeira and Edgar Salvador, accompanied by trainer José Amaral, from EPROSEC - Professional School of the Office and Commerce Union of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in Ponta Delgada, who won the respective category in i9.Açores with the project “Fertazor”. University education is part of the Entrepreneurship Mission, student Vasco Lima, from the University of Minho, winner of I9.Açores with the “Vulca Collective” project. I9.Açores - Young Academy of Innovative Ideas is promoted by the Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate of Youth. This year's edition took place in May, in Praia da Vitória, with the participation of more than 70 young people and 40 business ideas from all islands in the region. At the opening session, the regional secretary with Youth Guardianship, Maria João Carreiro, announced that those classified first in the different categories of the contest would join an entrepreneurship mission to Barcelona. I9.Açores represents the culmination of the work developed throughout the school year within the Entrepreneurial Academy, in which more than 6,000 of all teaching cycles have participated.
More than 1,200 young people have already received OTLJ Summer 2025 occupation scholarship
2025-09-01
More than 1,200 young people have already received OTLJ Summer 2025 occupation scholarship
The 1,217 young people placed in the “Occupation on Vacation” and “Young Active” Summer Summer subprograms that completed their occupation project at the end of July have already received their occupation scholarships, in total paid by the Azores government of about 252 thousand euros.
Occupation scholarships are processed after the completion of the projects, and the next phase of payment will focus on the projects that started in July, but ending in August, and the projects that began in August.
This year, about two thousand young people saw their candidacy for OTLJ Summer 2025, promoted by the Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate of Youth.
More than 760 projects presented by entities of the nine islands of the region were approved, 86% of which for the “vacation occupation” subprogram, in which 93% of young people with approved applications were placed.
In global terms, 95% of young people were placed in one of the subprograms of their interest - “vacation occupation”, “active young people” and “summer in occupation” - and indicated when the candidacy took place from March 1 to April 30.
Since 2023, more than six thousand young people have been placed at the OTLJ, which confirms the interest of young people in the occupation projects during the school holidays.
Last January was published the new OTLJ regulation.
OTLJ Regulations had not been reviewed in the Azores seven years ago.
The new regulation, in addition to creating the “Summer in Occupation” subprogram, reinforces 20% of the scholarships awarded to young people and extend the one to two months candidates.
You can apply for “vacationing” young people between 14 and 24 years old, resident in the Azores, who attend the 9th grade, or equivalent, or secondary education, while “young active young people” can apply residents in the Azores from 15 to 24 years old in projects promoted by IPSS.
Projects framed in each of these two subprograms last 20 business days in July and August, and may not exceed five hours a day.
Young people is awarded a three euros bag per hour, totaling up to 207 monthly.
The new “Summer in Occupation” subprogram is intended for young people residents of the Azores, from 16 to 24 years old, who attend secondary, general or professional education, or higher education, undergraduate or master's courses.
Projects take place between July and August, totaling 35 business days, starting until the 5th business day of July, in a maximum of 20 hours per week, not exceeding 5 hours daily.
Young people is assigned a purse of four euros per hour, which can total, if the young man meets all his occupation, a bag worth 560 euros.
“Returns the house” with more than 2,170 approved applications
2025-08-07
“Returns the house” with more than 2,170 approved applications
More than 2,170 young Azorean students displaced from their island of residence to attend an educational establishment have already approved their candidacies to the “returns home” of the “+ Young” package, implemented by the Azores government, through the Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment.
Of the total young students with applications approved to this unprecedented measure in the Azores, created in July 2024, more than 85% have already received the payment of the supports for the school years 23/24 and 24/25, in an investment of over 184 thousand euros.
Through the “returns the house” measure, young students dislocated benefit from the payment of two trips rounds and return per year, between their island of residence and the place of the school they are attending.
They are also considered for the purpose of supporting young people between an island other than their residence and the territory where the educational establishment is situated, in cases of absence of direct flight or residence of one of its parents.
Support for each trip, in the maximum amount of 99 €, includes expenses with the purchase of a basement baggage and with penalties for change of travel dates, when not included in the ticket.
You can apply for this measure young students over the age of 26, with fiscal residence in the Azores and attending level 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 or 8 courses of the national qualifications in an educational establishment outside its island of residence, including another Azores Island, Portuguese continent or wood.
The Mobility Scholarship is awarded, per year, for trips that take place between September 1 and July 31.
Applications must be formalized on the Youth Portal, in youth.Azores.gov.pt , from 1 from September 15, pursuant to
Regional Secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, underlines the “innovative character of this measure” in the scope of public support measures and azorean youth, praising the fact that it is integrated in a “broad package of measures aimed at supporting studies and valuing their qualification and training, creating conditions for their fixation Azores ”.
The “returns the house-support for the mobility of the young displaced students” is part of the “+ Young” package, an initiative of the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition government created by
Network applications open - Regional Youth Volunteer Network
2025-07-04
Network applications open - Regional Youth Volunteer Network
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=19131346
Applications to the new Networks Program - Regional Youth Volunteering Network, created and implemented by the Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate of Youth. Applications take place in an open period on the Azores Youth Portal, available in Youth.Azores.gov.pt. They can apply for a volunteer project within the scope of young networks aged between 15 and 28 years, regardless of the level of education and the professional situation. This program includes two modalities: one “short duration” for one to five days projects, such as the requalification of a housing or the collection of stray animals, among others of a social and community nature; and another “regular” for projects for three to nine months in institutions with permanent activity, such as homes of elderly, disability support associations, among others that have as their object of action those provided for in volunteering. In “short duration” projects, young people benefit from a scholarship that can go from 21 euros to 75 euros, while in "regular" projects the monthly bag can reach 180 euros, a total of 1,620 euros, if the young man meets nine months of volunteering. With a view to the good implementation and execution of this program, the Regional Secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment appeals to the adhesion of entities, such as IPSS, non -profit associations and other, for the presentation of volunteer projects through which young people can participate and make their contribution. “If it is true that youth programs do not live without young people, it is not wrong to say that entities, associations and organizations are essential in the dynamization of these same programs for our young people,” noted Maria João Carreiro, when the presentation of Networks, in June, in the peak slabs. Also according to the holder of the Youth Folder, “with this new program, the Government of the Azores wants to affirm the importance of volunteering for personal, social and community development, through the sharing of knowledge, practices, perspectives and interventions that translate into the acquisition of skills and crucial competences in the formation of young people”.
About two thousand young Azoreans placed on OTLJ Summer 2025 projects
2025-06-25
About two thousand young Azoreans placed on OTLJ Summer 2025 projects
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=19034260
About two thousand young Azoreans with approved candidacies to the OTLJ - Free Time Occupation Program were placed in one of the three subprograms “Occupation on Vacation”, “Young Active” and “Summer in Occupation”. Places should be consulted at the Azores Youth Portal, available in Youth.Azores.gov.pt, and unqualified young people can consult, on the same portal, entities with approved projects and indicate their interest in developing the project in that entity. In all, more than 760 projects presented by entities of the nine islands of the region were approved, 86% of which for the subprogram “Occupation on vacation”, in which 93% of young people with approved candidacies were placed to OTLJ 2025. The newly created “summer in occupation” already ranks second in the preferences of young people, although the number of projects presented by entities falls short of the demand for young people. Of the 90 projects presented by entities, 64 were approved, which allowed the placement of more than 60 young people, from 145 with approved applications. In the “active young” subprogram, 65 young people were placed, from 72 with approved applications, in one of 42 projects presented by entities. Globally, 95% of the young people who presented and saw their candidacy for OTLJ Summer 2025 were placed in one of the three subprograms of their interest and indicated when the candidacy took place from March 1 to April 30. Since 2023, more than six thousand young people have been placed at the OTLJ, which confirms the interest of young people in the occupation projects during the school holidays. Last January was published the new OTLJ Regulation, promoted by the Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate of Youth. The OTLJ regulation had not been reviewed in the Azores seven years ago. The new regulation, in addition to creating the “Summer in Occupation” subprogram, reinforces 20% of the scholarships awarded to young people and extend the one to two months candidates. You can apply for “vacation” to young people between 14 and 24 years old, resident in the Azores, who attend the 9th grade, or equivalent, or secondary education, while “young actives” can apply residents in the Azores from 15 to 24 years old in projects promoted by IPSS. The projects framed in each of these two subprograms last 20 business days in July and August, and may not exceed five hours a day. Young people are awarded a three euros bag per hour, totaling up to 207 per month. The new subprogram “summer in occupation” is intended for young people residents of the Azores, from 16 to 24 years old, who attend secondary education, general or professional education, or higher education, in undergraduate or master's courses. Projects take place between July and August, a total of 35 business days, starting until the 5th business day of July, a maximum of 20 hours per week, not exceeding 5 hours a day. Young people are attributed a grant worth four euros per hour, which can total, if the young man meets all their occupation, a bag worth 560 euros. In the subprograms workshop to the potential OTLJ prosecutors, which took place in February, Maria João Carreiro highlighted the improvements in the OTLJ to reinforce the attractiveness of this program both for young people or entities, challenging the latter to present projects aligned with the interests of young people. About the “summer in occupation”, the regional secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment stressed that this subprogram allows us to integrate entities that were excluded from the OTLJ universe, such as private companies, social sector, social communication and cooperatives, “which promotes greater diversity and scope of occupation projects”.
Maria João Carreiro argues that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
2025-06-12
Maria João Carreiro argues that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=18901100
The regional secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment defended today, on the island of São Jorge, that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea” and that the democratic process “has much to gain from the participation of young people”. In this assumption, the preview of the “Democracy - Regional Plan for Literacy and the Young Democratic Participation” will be submitted “very soon” to the Council of the Government of the Azores for approval, Maria João Carreiro said, followed by the opening period of public consultation by citizens. The ruler, who was speaking at the opening session of the III “Democracy” Seminar, which took place in the Municipal Auditorium of Velas, explained that this regional plan is based on four axes of action and intervention: democratic literacy; principles and electoral system; Promotion of a participatory ecosystem and media education. "It is imperative to sensitize young people to a culture of democratic participation and for the exercise of a responsibility that is all of us, showing them that they also have power outside the ballot box and beyond the electoral periods," he said. Maria João Carreiro stressed that "politics cannot be seen by young people as a distant activity", nor as an exercise that runs out in the vote, which is why "a politics must be made to youth citizenship and lead politics to the lives of young people." As he explained, "democracy does not live on viral content and shares of social networks, but of citizens who recognize in this system of political and social organization the possibility of being, at the same time, promoters and beneficiaries of the rights and duties associated with them." According to the head of the Youth Folder, the Azorean executive is working with a “spirit of commitment and willingness to dialogue with young people” in the sense that they “approach democratic experience”, indicating that, since 2023, more than 2,600 young people have participated in forums, meetings, meetings and participatory activities. At the III “Democracy” Seminar, about 100 young students from the schools of São Jorge Island were able to attend and reflect with the communication of Jorge Botelho Moniz, an associate researcher at IPRI -Nova and Cipes -Lusophone, subordinate to the theme “Representative Democracy and the need to be the voice of citizens”. The round table followed “the individual responsibility of being the voice of a collective: the importance of the representativeness of youth and the community”, with João Machado, a member of the direction of the National Youth Council; Tiago Félix, from the Municipal Council of Youth of Velas; Leoter Viegas, from the president of AIPA; and Jaime Vieira, president of the EBS de Vela Student Association. Eladio Braga, regional youth director, moderated the debate. In the session also played the musicians of the island of São Jorge Diogo “NTK” Teixeira. Participated in the Seminar ”, among others, the mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, the deputies to the Legislative Assembly of the Azores Paulo Silveira and Maria Isabel Teixeira, the vice president of the EBS of Velas Executive Council, Salomé Nico, and the president of the Executive Council of the São Jorge Island, Dário Fonseca.
III Seminar “Democracy” Debate Representative and Participatory Democracy
2025-06-06
III Seminar “Democracy” Debate Representative and Participatory Democracy
The Regional Secretariat of Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate of Youth, promotes next Thursday, June 12, at the Municipal Auditorium of Velas, in São Jorge, the III Seminar “Democracy”, within the Regional Plan for Literacy and Young Democratic Participation.
This third edition is dedicated to reflection on representative and participatory democracy.
The opening session will be chaired by the regional secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, followed by the communication of Jorge Botelho Moniz, an associate researcher at IPRI-Nova and Cipes of Lusófona University, “representative democracy and the need to be the voice of citizens”.
“The individual responsibility of being the voice of a collective: the importance of the representativeness of youth and the community” is the theme of the round table in which John Machado will participate, vowel of the direction of the National Youth Council; Tiago Félix, member of the Municipal Council of Youth of Velas; Leoter Viegas, president of the AIPA Board; and Jaime Vieira, president of the EBS of Vela Students Association.
The roundtable will be moderate by Eládio Braga, regional director of Youth.
In the afternoon, the seminar's work continues at the candlel's elementary and secondary school with a “representative and participatory democracy” workshop for young people.
The “Democracy” seminar is integrated in the works of auscultation and debate for the definition of the operational objectives of the Regional Plan for Literacy and Democratic Participation - Democracy, an initiative of the Government of the Azores that aims to be a multilevel, transdisciplinary and interdepartamental instrument for the promotion of more active exercise of the citizenship of the Azoreans.
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Young Azoreans with a new volunteer program in the region
2025-06-04
Young Azoreans with a new volunteer program in the region
https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/comunicacao/news-detail?id=18812722
The young Azoreans interested in volunteer actions will have access to the Networks - Regional Youth Volunteering Network, the new program to support youth volunteering in the Azores, today announced the regional secretary of Youth, Housing and Employment. Maria João Carreiro, who spoke at the Pico's slabs, on Pico Island, during the inaugural session of the script “Youth.Azores - Know Your DRJ!” He explained that the regulation of this new program is being used and will be published shortly in an official newspaper, and the beginning of the candidacy period during June is foreseen. They will be able to be integrated into a young networks project aged between 15 and 28 years, regardless of the level of education and the professional situation. This program includes two modalities: one of “short duration” for projects from 1 to 5 days, such as the requalification of a housing or the collection of stray animals, among others of a social and community nature; and another “regular” for projects for 3 to 9 months in institutions with permanent activity, such as homes of elderly, disability support associations, among others that have as their object of action those provided for in volunteering. In “short duration” projects, young people benefit from a scholarship that can go from 21 euros to 75 euros, while in "regular" projects the monthly bag can reach 180 euros, a total of 1,620 euros, if the young man meets nine months of volunteering. "With this new program, we want to affirm the importance of volunteering for personal, social and community development, through the sharing of knowledge, practices, perspectives and interventions that translate into the acquisition of crucial skills and competences in the formation of young people," explained the youth portfolio holder. With a view to the good implementation and execution of this program, Maria João Carreiro has called on the adhesion of the entities, including the IPSS, non -profit associations and others, “which are absolutely essential for the application of volunteer projects” in which young people will surely want to be integrated and make their contribution. "If it is true that youth programs do not live without young people, it is not wrong to say that entities, associations and organizations are essential in the dynamization of these same programs for our young people," he said. In this assumption, the script “Youth.Azores” will include in their interactive sessions not only young people, but also entities that can present and streamline each of the DRJ's more than 10 programs in areas such as associativism, creativity and innovation, entrepreneurship, mobility, occupation, training or volunteering. "Just as we want to widen youth information and break barriers to its participation in programs, we are aware that this work of information and awareness has to reach entities so that they can, even more number, propose and streamline projects suitable for the interests and expectations of young people," he said. Participated in the inaugural session of the script “Youth.Azores”, which had its debut at the Pico Lajes Basic and Secondary School, among other guests, the vice-mayor of the Pico Lajes, Manuel Pimentel; the mayor of São Roque do Pico, Luís Filipe Silva; the deputy mayor of Madalena, Mário Silva; The President of the Executive Council of the Pico Lajes Basic and Secondary School, José Ferreira, and the regional director of Youth, Eladio Braga.
