The Regional Director for Youth praised in Ribeira Grande the social entrepreneurship project "Young Earth." It is being developed by the Association for Promotion of Young People at Risk.
 
Pilar Damião attended the closing session of the seminar "Young Earth - Youth Employability: Act Locally, think globally." The government official stressed that "the merit of the project has recognised from the very beginning." It falls within one of the areas the Regional Directorate for Youth has "strongly investment" - youth social entrepreneurship.
 
Taking into account the urgency to respond to the social vulnerabilities affecting some young people, "the Regional Directorate for Youth has supported projects aimed at reducing risk factors, improving the conditions for the healthy and harmonious growth of young people and reducing early school dropout," said the Regional Director for Youth.
 
According to Pilar Damião, the Regional Directorate for Youth implemented the program "Inspire, Learn and Age", an initiative developed in partnership with strategic local entities. It is aimed at the acquisition of personal and social skills based on alternative intervention methods.
 
The Regional Director for Youth also informed that the programme, which has been held on Graciosa and Terceira, will be implemented this year on the islands of São Jorge and São Miguel.
Pilar Damião also pointed out the programme to encourage youth social entrepreneurship, "Youth +," which has represented "a strong commitment" of the Regional Directorate for Youth.
 
 "Social entrepreneurship should be increasingly considered as a maximisation strategy of the human resources to further organise more initiatives, programmes and actions that allow a community develop in a sustainable manner. This initiative should also enhance the coordination between productive groups and stimulate the participation of the population, expanding the 'public space' of citizens in situations of exclusion and risk," defended the Regional Director for Youth.
 
The "Young Earth" project is co-financed by EEA Grants funds under "Active Citizenship," a programme managed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It has several partners, including the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorates for Youth and Social Solidarity, and the Association Municipalities of São Miguel Island.
 
The purpose of this project is to promote the employability of young people in vulnerable situations through a double movement of activation of young people and communities (Private Social Solidarity Institutions/NGOs, companies and public authorities) in perspective of social entrepreneurship, social cohesion and justice, and sustainable development.