The Regional Director for Youth announced today that the Youth Free Time Occupation Programme (OTL-J) starts Monday, July 3, involving more than 2,600 young Azoreans.
 
"This year, OTL-J will involve the participation of 2,657 young people, placed in 1,077 projects, representing an investment of over 375 thousand Euros in the sub-programmes to be developed during the summer," said Lúcio Rodrigues.
 
The Regional Director for Youth stressed that the overall investment in the entire OTL-J programme, including the Youth Students sub-programme, which ran from January to May, "is around 497 thousand Euros."
 
The OTL-J programme is an initiative of the Government of the Azores, implemented through the Regional Directorate for Youth, which aims to provide young people with an innovative way of occupying their leisure time by contributing to their non-formal education through the acquisition of new knowledge.
 
"Through OTL-J, the Azorean youth can accumulate social and professional experiences, decisive for their formation as empowered and responsible citizens," said Lúcio Rodrigues. He added that this programme also intends to "provide contact with young people, allowing entities to recognise their skills and the potential they represent."
 
The Free Time Occupation Programme is composed of several sub-programs, designed and organised according to the aspirations and needs of the target audience, that is, young people aged between 15 and 24 enrolled in the 9th form or who have already completed it.
 
Like in previous years, the Youth Solidarity and Holiday Occupation sub-programmes were the most sought-after by young people.
 
The results of applications to the programme may be consulted at the address http://www.otl.drj.azores.gov.pt.