The Regional Director for Communities stated in San José, California, that the promotion of the Portuguese language in the Diaspora is "increasingly important," stressing its role in strengthening intergenerational relations and providing a wider range of social and professional opportunities.
 
Paulo Teves spoke Friday to a group of more than hundred Portuguese students in that U.S. state. He challenged young people to "take a more proactive, dynamic and responsible role in the societies where they live as well as in the growing ties with the Autonomous Region of the Azores."
 
"The feeling of belonging, values, culture and language increases the weight of young people in the responsibility of each one in building the future," said the Regional Director.
 
In his speech, he stressed that "we cannot only consider that the teaching, promotion and dissemination of Portuguese language are the sole responsibility of schools, universities or community associations."
 
In this regard, the government official stressed that this task should be assumed by all, starting with young people. Hence, it is important to instil in them the benefits of learning another language which, in this case, is one of the most spoken in the world.
 
Paulo Teves recalled that the Regional Government has supported "student exchanges between the Region and the Diaspora," so that young people can "become acquainted with the current reality" of the Azores. According to him, this initiative also "strengthens relations between young people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
 
The Regional Director for Communities also attended the opening of the 41st Conference of the Luso American Education Foundation (LAEF), an institution founded in 1963 that aims to promote Portuguese language and culture in the USA by developing several initiatives in this area, especially among young people.
 
Under the theme "Roots," the 41st annual conference, which takes place this year in the city of San José, is supported by the Regional Directorate for Communities. It will be attended by dozens of Portuguese language teachers in the state of California, in addition to Azorean guests.
 
In this visit to California, the Regional Director also participated in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Immigrant Week that took place in Elk Grove at the premises of the local Holy Spirit Society. The event gathered several organisations headquartered in Sacramento, the state capital, and in the city of Santa Clara.
 
Paulo Teves also took part in the seminar "Ana Hatherly and the Portuguese Concrete Poetry" at the University of Berkeley, which was attended by several Portuguese Language teachers and students.