The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, promotes the training course on "Creation and Management of Local Development Projects." The training course, developed by the Association for the Promotion of Youngsters at Risk (APPJ), is integrated in the "Youth Training" programme which, in turn, is part of the Incentive Scheme for Youth Associations.
This programme has been supported by the Azorean Government through an average annual investment of 500,000 Euros.

According to the Regional Director for Youth, Bruno Pacheco, the "Youth Training" programme "represents a new approach to the type of investment that we have been carrying out at the level of associations."

The Regional Director added that "the major goals set for this area are being accomplished during this legislative period with the establishment of an incentive scheme, the investment in the associations' infrastructures and the funding stabilisation of the activities developed by associations."

Bruno Pacheco also pointed out that the associative movement has received special attention by the Government, which "has invested an annual average of 500,000 Euros." Hence, the Government "creates the conditions for associations to become partners in local development."

The Incentive Scheme for Youth Associations (SIAJ) is intended to create the necessary conditions so that association leaders may have access to training opportunities which, indirectly, will help them to enhance the activities developed by Youth Associations.

In this context, the Regional Director for Youth explains that future challenges necessarily require "associations that are capable of sharing resources, boosting the investment in activities and creating conditions for the emergence of innovative initiatives that promote further development."

The training course, which will be held at the Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel on January 28 and February 4 and 11, is targeted at twenty members of Youth Associations or similar, registered at RAAJ (Registration of Azorean Youth Associations).

The course is divided into four different modules: definition and drafting of local development projects; organisation, planning and development of projects; project assessment and budget monitoring.
 
The "Youth Training" programme aims to promote the development of training courses in the context of non-formal education initiatives targeted at youth associations' leaders and animators as well as of youth associations, federations and similar institutions by preparing and providing them with tools capable of enhancing their performance in the management and development of activities.

Youth associations registered at RAAJ wishing to provide their leaders and animators with the necessary training for the development of their activities.