The President of the Government announced the new training will allow 60 new nannies to begin their activity in the Azores by the end of this year, ensuring 240 vacancies for children residing on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Pico.
 
"I am pleased to tell you that the training for 60 new nannies on the islands of São Miguel, Pico, Faial and Terceira will begin before the end of the year, ensuring another 240 vacancies for children," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the opening of the day nursery of the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Ponta Delgada, "A Joaninha." An investment of 800 thousand Euros, it is located in a central area and has capacity to accommodate about 40 children.
 
In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro assured that the support to children and youth is of strategic importance to the Government. This will be achieved through a policy of social responses designed to create the conditions so that each child and young person from all islands may progress cognitively, personally and socially on an equal footing.
 
In this context, the President of the Government pointed out that the Government invested last year more than 32 million Euros in the operation and redevelopment of the network of social responses in this area throughout the archipelago, covering nurseries, kindergartens, free time activity centres and intergenerational centres.
 
"The Region currently provides 300 social responses in the area of childhood and youth with an installed capacity of about 13 thousand vacancies in different services, covering 19 municipalities," said the President of the Government.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, the Government continues this effort this year. There are ongoing investments of 12 million Euros in the remodelling and construction of new nurseries and kindergartens on the islands of São Miguel, Faial, Corvo and Terceira. These infrastructures will provide a "strong contribution to the social and territorial cohesion of the Region."
 
In addition to public investment in infrastructures, the Government of the Azores has developed a series of measures and policies to support children and young people in the archipelago.
 
"We have gradually increased the number of promoters, increasing their number to 160. We have extended the Parental Education Programme to more islands and we have implemented the Azores Commissioner's Office for Childhood, among other measures," explained Vasco Cordeiro.
 
At the opening of this day care centre, the President of the Government also stressed that references to these measures and the policies implemented as well as to the public resources allocated to this area "cannot be understood as the satisfaction that everything is done".
 
"In the area of childhood and youth, it is necessary to redouble efforts in order to eliminate persistent problems," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government stressed that the strength of partnerships between public and private entities allow us "to reach further and deeper into the situations in which it is necessary to take action."