The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs highlighted the attention that youth associations has received from the Regional Government, emphasising the role of associations in the responses to the challenges they face. 
 
"We strongly believe that the aggregating capacity of associations, together with creativity, energy and youth irreverence, will help us creating innovative responses to the challenges we face," said Isabel Rodrigues. The government official spoke Friday at the opening of the headquarters of UnoJovens Associations in Ponta Garça, municipality of Vila Franca do Campo.
 
In her speech, Isabel Rodrigues revealed that "the Regional Government invested nearly 1.3 million Euros in the support to youth associations during this legislative period."
 
This investment must be added up to the support measures created within youth policies that contribute to the comprehensive development of young people and the construction of their autonomy. They are intended to support and promote the implementation of projects created by thousands of young people across the Region.
 
"In these four years, the Regional Government invested about nine million Euros in policies specifically targeted to youth", stressed the government official.
 
Therefore, the Regional Secretary stressed that "we could not have chosen a happier way to mark the International Youth Day than to open the headquarters of UnoJovens Association."
 
"Taking into consideration the work carried out in the village of Ponta Garça, this association occupies a prominent place as an example of what youth association can be and how their action is positively reflected on the lives of communities as well as on the life of our Region," said the government official.
 
The new headquarters are installed in part of the restored building of the old basic education school. This intervention was the result of the efforts undertaken by the youth association, the Vila Franca do Campo City Hall, which transferred the building and supplied labour, and the Azorean Government, which funded the recovery interventions.
 
Isabel Rodrigues alluded to the International Youth Day, highlighting the importance of young people in society and pointing out that "they are not just the future; they are already the present."
 
"We have to work for them so that we may ensure them a present reality that will allow young people to become full, participating and fulfilled citizens in the future," said the government official.