The Regional Director for Youth highlighted the "exceptional work" and the "unconditional involvement" of leaders and collaborators of Solidaried’arte Cultural Association and Bernardo Manuel Silveira Estrela Social Support Centre and Shelter in the ‘Music I Can’ project.

Pilar Damião spoke in Ponta Delgada at the final presentation of the project, stressing the "major success" of this initiative, which was organised under the European programme - Youth in Action.

"Art, especially music, was a vehicle for young people to acquire key skills in a non-formal context that are indispensable in learning throughout life," said the government official.

The 'Music I Can' project used music, particularly through the creation of bands and DJ's to work with youngsters at risk and/or in a situation of social and cultural exclusion. It involved 66 youngsters from the municipalities of Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande.

This initiative was promoted by the Azorean Government, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, in partnership with Solidaried'arte and Bernardo Manuel Silveira Estrela Social Support Centre and Shelter. It aimed to provide these youngsters with a non-formal teaching/learning space so that they could work their musical, cultural, personal and social skills as well as those promoting integration and the awareness of an active and participatory citizenship in a national and European context.

Moreover, the project was intended to provide youngsters with the opportunity to take active part in their own process of change and integration and to become involved in the process of change of their peers, based on the principles of equality, cultural diversity, equity, entrepreneurship and tolerance.

In his speech, the Regional Director for Youth also stressed that Erasmus +, namely Youth in Action, "is a programme for everyone."

In this regard, he stressed that Youth in Action "aims to change people's lives and enhance the projects developed by young people, thus creating experiences and opportunities, promoting mobility, boosting the learning outcomes and connecting people through cultural ties supported by common values and joint policies in order to promote social development and economic growth in Europe."

Hence, Pilar Damião expressed the availability of the Regional Directorate for Youth to "support the application procedures, including the filling of forms and the follow-up of projects."