The President of the Government announced today in Santa Cruz Graciosa another 200 new vacancies in infrastructures for the areas of Childhood and Special Needs, following the public investment of nearly 18 million Euros that is planned in the Regional Public Works Charter.

 With regard to day nurseries and kindergartens, Vasco Cordeiro mentioned that several works for the construction and adaptation of infrastructures are already planned or ongoing, representing a public investment of nearly 10 million Euros. They are expected to open over 100 vacancies on several islands.

 As for the area of special needs, the President of the Government added that the Regional Charter Public Works includes the installation of occupational centres, residential homes as well as support centres for disabled people. These interventions correspond to a global amount of eight million Euros and will create another 100 vacancies, in addition to the existing 530 vacancies in the Region.

 The President of the Government spoke at the inauguration of the Day Nursery, Kindergarten and Occupation Activity Centre (EAC) of the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, which represented an investment of nearly 2.3 million Euros.

 "The reasons why this investment was cherished is also related with the idea of hope, future and solidarity since it is designed to serve young couples from Graciosa as well as to provide better conditions to the new generation of Graciosa," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
 In his speech, the President of the Government also stressed that the investment in this new social infrastructure "embodies" the policy aimed at the fulfilment of "cohesion values."

 "This nursery and kindergarten contributes to the fulfilment of the value of cohesion insofar as it provides Graciosa families, in particular to young couples, with the conditions to access services that would have in any other part of our archipelago," stressed the President of the Government.

 Vasco Cordeiro pointed this new nursery and kindergarten and Occupation Activity Centre as an example of birth incentive policies, stressing that it ensures young Graciosa couples all the conditions for their children as well as for the professional fulfilment of parents.

 "This work is not just an investment in infrastructures. It conveys the message that it is worth, in the case of Graciosa island, to provide these condition young couples so that may achieve their personal and professional fulfilment here," said the President of the Government, who also highlighted the partnership signed with the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Santa Cruz Graciosa.

 "This is a good example of what can be achieved when there is this desire to join forces and build something for the benefit of those who we want to serve," said Vasco Cordeiro.