Results of applications for OTL/J summer programme to be released until June 15

The Regional Director for Youth, Bruno Pacheco, visited yesterday the Youth Development and Inclusion Centre - Perkursos which develops projects under the "Young Students" sub-programme of the Free Time Occupation programme (OTL/J), an initiative promoted by the Azorean Government through the Regional Directorate for Youth.

This year, the results of applications for 2012 OTL/J summer programme which registered a participation rate of 95.65% will be released until June 15. In previous years, the results were made public in the end of June.

The global investment in all programmes and projects developed under the 2012 Free Time Occupation Programme amounts to over 800,000 Euros.

The "Young Students" sub-programme, which ends tomorrow, aims to mobilise young students for a useful occupation of their free time.

This year, this sub-programme involved 211 youngsters participating in 113 projects, which corresponds to an increase of 96.2% in the number of youngsters involved in this initiative and 54.8% in the number of projects.

During the visit to "Perkursos" centre, the Regional Director for Youth praised the work carried out by this institution, stating that the youth inclusion centre "has been carried out a fundamental work in the integration of youngsters in society."

Bruno Pacheco said it was important to acknowledge the work developed by the technicians of the youth inclusion centre, adding that it is "important that all youngsters be actively and fully integrated in our society."

The OTL/J programme aims to provide youngsters with an innovative way to occupy their free time, contributing to their non-formal education, the acquisition of knowledge, norms and values for the exercise of a responsible citizenship. Furthermore, this initiative also aims to provide social and professional experiences that are decisive for the education of qualified and responsible citizens.

This programme is divided into seven summer sub-programmes: "Holiday Occupation," "Holidays with Culture"; "Environment; "Science on Holidays"; "Youth Solidarity" and "Active Youngsters." The "Young Students" sub-programme takes place between the first week of January and the last week of May.