The Regional Director for Youth launched today the Youth IdeiaAçores competition, an initiative that "marks the culmination of the 'Entrepreneurial Education: the Path to Success!" programme, which has been running at 48 regional schools in recent months."
 
Lúcio Rodrigues spoke in Horta at the end of a round of visits to nine schools on the islands of São Jorge, Pico and Faial, where he followed up the development of that programme directed to students attending basic education, secondary and vocational training schools.
 
"This year, the IdeiAçores Summer Camp will bring together nearly one hundred students from six islands of the archipelago. It will take place on the island of São Miguel between May 9 and 11," added Lúcio Rodrigues. During these days, young people will "develop ideas for business and a finalist project will be selected to be presented by the winners in Lisbon."
 
The Regional Director for Youth pointed out that this year's edition of the Entrepreneurial Education programme involved 3,000 students on several islands. According to him, it included "entrepreneurship classes, the creation of entrepreneurship clubs and the development of activities through an online Educational Resource Centre."
 
Lúcio Rodrigues highlighted the "creativity of young people who, even at school age, have presented innovative projects in various areas, including mobile applications, tourism, design, innovative products, food production and even service provision, among others."
 
"It is remarkable how young people, supported by teachers participating in this programme, develop ideas. Some of which are immediately viable in the business world, while others may serve as the basis for future projects," said the government official.
 
"This is the great legacy of the IdeiAçores competition and we will continue to invest in it," said the Regional Director.
 
Lúcio Rodrigues stressed that the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Youth and the Entrepreneurial Education programme, aims to "stimulate the entrepreneurial potential of young people as well as to develop their spirit of initiative, dynamics and intervention. On the other hand, it also intends to demystify the concept of risk that often arises associated with entrepreneurship."
 
The IdeiAçores Summer Camp falls within the "Entrepreneurial Education: The Path to Success" programme, an initiative promoted by the Government of the Azores through the Regional Directorates for Youth and Education.