The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency announced today a series of innovations in the youth mobility support programme, increasing the support granted and widening of age of eligible young people.
 
The "Bento de Góis" programme aims to promote the regional, national and international mobility of young people living in the Azores. It is developed into three actions - "Action I: National Mobility," "Action II: Exchange in the Azores" and "Action III: International Mobility."
 
According to Berto Messias, "this programme is now open to young people aged between 12 and 28, while, until now, participants had to be aged between 12 and 26."
 
"Another novelty concerns the elimination of the application period, which will take place throughout the year, instead of two application periods per year. Hence, the new ordinance stipulates that applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the date of the project," explained Berto Messias.
 
According to the government official, "this new ordinance regulating the "Bento de Góis" programme provides young people with the opportunity to submit more than one project in each year, whenever they participate in programmes/competitions held in several phases."
 
"The new rules also increase the support allocated to accommodation and food expenses in Action I when using maritime transport in the Azores. Mobility projects within the European Union are also supported by 65% under the social mobility allowance for travel to Mainland Portugal, a figure that stood at 60% in the previous version of the programme," said the government official.
 
"Another change concerns the fact, in addition to eligible institutions, sports clubs may now apply for the programme; however, travel within the federated sports competition season."
 
Applications for "Bento de Góis" programme may be submitted by associations registered in the Azorean Registry of Youth Associations, informal youth groups, young people over 18, schools, private associations or cooperatives developing activities for young people and other non-profit organisations considered appropriate for the promotion of the actions envisioned in the Programme.
 
Further information is available at the address http://bentodegois.drj.azores.gov.pt/.