The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity revealed in Angra do Heroísmo that the Regional Government has improved the capacity of Youth Development and Inclusion Centres (CDIJ) in the context of the measures to support young employability. This has been achieved through the provision of training to technical teams and the inclusion of more partners in the regional network to support this social response.
 
Andreia Cardoso spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the project "Our Farms - Growing Vocations," developed by the Youth Development and Inclusion Centre of Cáritas Association on Terceira Island. According to her, it is "important" that the technical teams of these centres be "better prepared to keep up with the inclusion needs of young people at all levels."
 
"It is fundamental that the CDIJ support network be as comprehensive as possible because promoting the inclusion of young people is to break cycles of poverty. The more tools we have, the better the results of our work will be," said the government official.
 
"In April, we ratify the protocol which will includes the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training, Sport and Prevention and Control of Dependencies," said Andreia Cardoso. According to her, this is "a measure already planned in the Programme of the Government that now takes shape."
 
In addition to improving and collaborating with other departments of the Regional Government, Andreia Cardoso highlighted the investment made in the reinforcement and training of the technical teams of these centres, namely through training.
 
"The Government promoted training courses on consumption prevention and mental health, involving about one hundred technicians from the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial," the Regional Secretary said, defending that "training plays a decisive role."
 
"In addition to the psychological and social rehabilitation of young people who are already in vulnerable situations, it is also important to ensure interventions aimed at preventing exposure to risk situations," said the government official.
 
As an example, Andreia Cardoso highlighted the success of the project she visited today, an initiative that works towards the promotion of theoretical and practical skills for employability in the primary sector for young people in situations of increased social vulnerability (aged between 18 and 26).
 
"This is an intervention to which the Regional Government attaches great importance in the proposal for a Regional Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion. However, this is also an area in which we have observed and supported countless projects with already proven results, which only reinforces the importance of continuing to invest in these initiatives," said the government official.
 
"Our Farms - Growing Vocations" project is about to complete one year of implementation. According to the government official, "it demonstrates that the Youth Development and Inclusion Centres has managed to go beyond the stabilisation, schooling and training of young people by fostering projects that promote the labour integration of these young people," said the government official.
 
"The Cáritas Association of Terceira Island has been our long-time partner, working with us on many fronts. It is very gratifying to know and promote the initiatives that institutions successfully develop with the primary goal of improving the living conditions of its beneficiaries," stressed the Secretary for Social Solidarity.
 
Currently, there are 10 Youth Development and Inclusion Centres operating on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial.
 
These centres are a social response created specifically in the Azores. They aim to promote the development of social and educational actions among young people, aged between 14 and 18, who are at risk and who come from disadvantaged social, economic and multiproblematic contexts.