The Regional Director for Youth highlighted in Horta the “dynamics” of the Azorean youth in their participation at the Youth Parliament.

Lúcio Rodrigues spoke after his participation in the school sessions of the Youth Parliament that took place today and Monday at the António José de Ávila Basic Education School and Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School on the island of Faial.

The Regional Director highlighted the “great commitment of young people to take part in this project,” which he considered to be “remarkable from year to year.”

The Youth Parliament is an initiative developed in the Region by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, in partnership with the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the National Assembly.

"The commitment of young people and teachers to the Youth Parliament project is clearly remarkable, which clearly demonstrates that the Azorean youth wants to get involved and participate, giving their informed opinions," said Lúcio Rodrigues.

The regional phase of the Youth Parliament will take place at the headquarters of the Regional Parliament on March 9 and 10.

Lúcio Rodrigues also highlighted the “importance of this year's theme,” which will focus on the issue of "Domestic and Dating Violence."

“It is important to make young people aware of this problem. With the Youth Parliament, we have succeeded in achieving this goal, while promoting a critical spirit and fostering civic participation,” stressed the Regional Director.

This year, the Youth Parliament involves 46 public and private schools from all the islands of the Azores, where school sessions are currently taking place, covering hundreds of students.
Each school elects its representatives and, in this context, about 132 basic education and secondary school students are expected to participate in the regional phase.

This phase will select the regional winners, who will participate in the national session to be held at the National Assembly on May 4 and 5.

Simultaneously, the Euroschool contest is also taking place. This year's edition will be held under the theme "European Values: they are also yours."

The Euroschool contest, directed to secondary school students, consists of simulating the work carried out by the members of the Parliament.

The winners of the national contest will visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, spending a day as members of the European Parliament.

"The Youth Parliament and the Euroschool contest are key projects for the Regional Government because, through them, we have the opportunity to stimulate the civic participation of young Azoreans, which is one of our strategic goals for this legislative term," stressed the Regional Director.
"It is with great pleasure that we see young people every year - and the entire school community - joining this project, which demonstrates, once more, that young Azoreans want to participate if they are given a voice," added Lúcio Rodrigues.