The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, presented today in Ponta Delgada the "Jovens+" (Youth+) programme, an initiative intended to encourage youth social entrepreneurship.

The Regional Director for Youth stated that this initiative represents the demand for innovative and sustainable social solutions; the latter have been implemented through the creation and development of alternative and effective social responses addressed at youngsters.

"Social entrepreneurship should be increasingly regarded as a strategy to boost the existing social capital in order to further develop more initiatives, programmes and actions," defended Pilar Damião, who spoke at the presentation of this new programme.

According to the Regional Director, "will foster the sustainable development of a community, increase the coordination between production groups and stimulate participation, which will expand the public space of citizens at risk of exclusion."

"This is why we want to encourage, through the 'Jovens +' programme, the development of projects intended to identify, support and promote initiatives with a high potential of social entrepreneurship. This effort should be jointly carried out with organisations of exceptional and committed individuals willing to change the world in an efficient and innovative way," said Pilar Damião.

The main priorities of the "Jovens+" programme are the following: prevent early school dropout, promote the inclusion of youngsters with fewer opportunities, encourage youth volunteering, foster entrepreneurship, improve the employability of youngsters, establish partnerships and promote network integration through international projects.

According to Pilar Damião, this is another programme that "meets the provisions of the Europe 2020 Agenda. It will certainly be the basis for a more inclusive, supportive, innovative and enterprising youth."

Pilar Damião also announced that Regional Directorate for Youth will carry out a training course on social entrepreneurship in bootcamp format to be held at the Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel from March 6 to 8.

This initiative will be promoted by the Association for the Promotion of Youngsters at Risk and Social Entrepreneurship Institute (IES).