The Regional Director for Youth highlighted in Santa Cruz da Graciosa the high number of projects approved in the Participatory Budget of the Azores that are already underway on several islands of the archipelago.
 
Lúcio Rodrigues spoke Monday at the beginning of the "Learn for Life" project, winner of the Participatory Budget of the Azores in the area of Youth, which consists of a series of basic courses aimed at young people residing on Graciosa Island in the areas of sewing and cooking.
 
“This project is very interesting as it was created following the shortcomings identified by local young people with regard to certain professional areas. Hence, it proposes to fill these gaps with the organisation of workshops,” said the Regional Director.
 
Lúcio Rodrigues emphasised that the project involves the participation of 10 trainees in this first module, adding that “there will be a second module at a later date.”
 
The Regional Director stated that this “is already the third project implemented under the Participatory Budget of the Azores in the area of Youth.” The previous two initiatives have already been completed: the painting of an urban art mural on Corvo Island, an investment of about 5,000 Euros, and the Music'Arte initiative promoted at Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School, an investment amounting to 10,200 Euros.
 
“Music'Arte was another interesting project that was implemented under the Participatory Budget of the Azores 2018 that involved about 100 young São Jorge islanders. It consisted of various flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, tuba, euphonium, trombone, percussion and voice workshops, based on a concept of intensive training,” stated the government official.
 
Lúcio Rodrigues stated that, later this week, he will visit the fourth project under implementation in Lajes do Pico.
 
“This is the 'Puzzle' project, which aims to introduce games on the school grounds of Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School. It is primarily intended to foster socialisation through collective games, such as ping pong, checkers, chess and other educational games, representing an overall investment of 5,000 Euros,” revealed the Regional Director.
 
Lúcio Rodrigues expressed his “strong belief” that all projects approved under the Participatory Budget of the Azores for the area of Youth will be “under implementation or fully implemented by the end of this year.”
 
“We want to pass on the message to young Azoreans that it is worth participating and it is worth making contributions, because we all want to help the Azores moving forward. In presenting their ideas and projects with the Regional Government as their partner, we will implement the winning projects emerging from Participatory Budgets, as in this specific case, for the area of Youth,” said the Regional Director.