The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity defended in Angra do Heroísmo that the socio-professional integration projects for people with disabilities financed by the Government of the Azores have represented "an effective contribution to a more inclusive society."
 
Andreia Cardoso visited today two companies employing participants of the "EmpregOn" programme, a pilot project in the area of employability for people with disabilities. The initiative aims to promote their integration into the labour market through socially useful activities that contribute to their financial autonomy and active participation in society.
 
"These projects allow us to test new approaches to the labour world that can contribute to the full integration of these people as well as to raise the awareness of the community in general for equality of opportunities and non-discrimination based on disability," said the Regional Secretary.
 
"Therefore, the Regional Government has supported projects for the socio-professional integration of people with disabilities in order to promote their integration and non-discrimination and to contribute towards a more inclusive society," added the government official.
 
The "EmpregOn" project, fully funded by the Regional Government and developed by "Casa de Saúde São de Rafael" (mental health institution), has managed to integrate nine of the 10 beneficiaries into in full-time jobs in several local companies on the island of Terceira.
 
"By the end of 2019, we intend to implement and assess the pilot projects in the context of socially useful activities and employability in order to ascertain their effectiveness and possible continuity. This is also essential for the revision of legal mechanisms on the integration of people with disabilities into the labour market," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
The Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity fully funds two pilot projects in this area: "EmpregOn" a project for the promotion of employability developed in partnership with the "Casa de Saúde São de Rafael," and "Seed(s)" a project for the promotion socially useful activities developed in partnership with the Cáritas Association of Terceira Island.
 
Likewise, there are plans to recruit people with disabilities through employment programmes, namely PROSA. The ACM - Association of Christian Youth has joined on Terceira Island with the hiring of nine people as well as APADIV - Association of Parents and Friends of Disabled People of Faial with the hiring of four people.
 
These projects fall within the actions provided for in the Biennial Action Plan 2018-2019 under the Regional Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion. They are also in line with the Regional Government's goals in the area of social solidarity, namely with regard to the inclusion of people with disabilities.