The President of the Government announced in Nordeste the launch of new works, scheduled for this year, to strengthen and improve the network of social support to children and youth, an investment over nine million Euros.

Vasco Cordeiro spoke at the ceremony to lay the first stone of the new day nursery of "Casa de Trabalho do Nordeste," a social institution under the administration of the local "Santa Casa da Misericórdia." The President of the Government stressed that the Government expects to launch, by the end of 2015, the procedures for another nine contract works included in the Regional Public Works Charter for the construction, rehabilitation or expansion of social infrastructures for children and youth.

In this context, the President of the Government pointed out the construction of the Day Nursery and Kindergarten on the island of Corvo, Paim Day Nursery in Ponta Delgada and Água de Pau Day Nursery, the remodelling of Angra do Heroísmo Day Nursery and Kindergarten and the rehabilitation of the building where "O Castelinho" Day Nursery is installed; the latter is located in city of Horta.

"The work developed by the Regional Government is directed to all Azoreans. It has the clear and unambiguous purpose to provide better conditions to strengthen social and regional cohesion," Vasco Cordeiro said, adding that "this type of investments allows us to create better conditions to safeguard the future of the Azores and build a better Region."

The work that symbolically started today in Nordeste represents a public investment over half a million Euros and will provide the municipality with a day nursery with a daily capacity for 23 children.

"The foundation stone of the future of Day Nursery of the Casa de Trabalho do Nordeste" recognises a legitimate aspiration of Nordeste inhabitants," the President of the Government said, emphasising that this work "concludes an important step, which the provision of day nurseries in the 19 regional municipalities."

Vasco Cordeiro stressed that Nordeste is one of the municipalities that has been showing positive population growth and birth rates, contrary to the national trend. Therefore, the President of the Government highlighted the importance of the new day nursery as a response "to the expectations of working couples," which will contribute to "the reconciliation between personal and professional life."

According to the President of the Government, this effort has been undertaken in partnership with Private Social Solidarity Institutions. Vasco Cordeiro recalled that public investment in the Azores in social infrastructures for children and youth "increased over 500% in the last decade, from 1.95 million Euros in 2004 to over 5.8 million Euros in 2013."

"The present moment brings additional challenges that call for the participation of public authorities and organisations in the area of social support that want to work with us; however, the task ahead of us cannot overshadow the path we have already followed. This is the journey that gives us the best assurance that we can overcome the challenges of the future," said the government official.

"In the midst of the whirlwind we have gone through in recent years and the challenges arising from the current economic and social context, the Autonomous Region of the Azores, through public entities and partnerships with Private Social Solidarity Institutions, has searched for solutions within the reach of its powers and resources to create a Region where we can say we leave no one behind," said Vasco Cordeiro.

In his speech, the President of the Government stressed that "this does not mean that all the work is done; it means that we are aware of what remains to be done. In fact, all Azoreans should have reasons to be proud in what we, as a region and people, have accomplished, especially in these times that put to test our solidarity and ability to serve the people."