The Regional Director for Communities defended in Horta the importance of supporting "initiatives that contribute to strengthening of the relations" between the Azores and their Diaspora, especially among young people.

Paulo Teves spoke Wednesday at a meeting with a group of 22 students attending Judith Duarte de Oliveira Basic Education School, who have been visiting the archipelago with their teachers and parents since June 1. This school is located in the Brazilian city of Itajaí in the state of Santa Catarina.

Addressing the group visitors, Paulo Teves restated the Government's commitment to respond to the initiatives of the communities that "recognise the importance of preserving the identity of the Azorean emigrants and disseminating it in different geographic areas."

"There are numerous manifestations of Azorean culture in your state that deserve to be disseminated among the Azorean society, which shares the same cultural origins," said Paulo Teves. In this regard, the government official added that "young people on both sides of the Atlantic have to take the responsibility of projecting our Region in the world, either in archipelago or in our Diaspora communities."

During the meeting, held the day before the return of that group to Brazil, young students shared their experiences on the islands of Pico, São Jorge and Faial under the project "Cultural Exchange: Travelling on the Wings of Knowledge." It was developed in partnership with São Roque do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School and had the support of the Regional Government.

This initiative falls within the school project "Rescuing Roots" that was developed by preschool and elementary school teachers from Brazil with the purpose of recovering certain cultural manifestations. The goal is to recover those that are still alive as well as those that, despite being almost non-existent, remain in the collective imagination of people in order to encourage students to acknowledge the value of Azorean cultural manifestations and make the teaching process more meaningful.

The Regional Director for Communities challenged young students, parents and teachers to be "true ambassadors of the Azores, their culture and their people" when they return home, after this experience that gave them the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and their cultural base as well.

Paulo Teves praised the work carried out by Judith Duarte de Oliveira Basic Education School in response to the increasing interest of students in learning more about their roots, which contributes to a better understanding of the society where they live.

"I believe that, after this trip, they will have a better knowledge of how crafts, religious events, music, dance, legends and tales persist in your city and in your State, becoming an integral part of your daily lives," said the Regional Director.