The Regional Director for Communities stressed in Praia da Vitória the importance of Portuguese Language "as a national heritage that should be promoted and preserved by all Portuguese speakers and their descendants as well as by political leaders, schools, parents and the host societies where Portuguese emigrant communities reside."

Speaking at the opening session of the 22nd Meeting of Portuguese Teachers in the United States and Canada, Paulo Teves stressed that "Portuguese Language is part of our heritage"; therefore, it should be preserved and disseminated now and always." This initiative is promoted by the North American Portuguese Teachers Association (APPEUC) in partnership with the Government of the Azores.

"Much has been done in this field; however, this awareness should extend to all sectors of society, bringing together a combination of efforts to disseminate this cultural legacy to the descendants of Azoreans living in the diaspora," said the Regional Director.

In this regard, Paulo Teves stressed the work that has been developed by the Azorean Government "to support and promote initiatives that contribute to the promotion of Portuguese Language abroad." According to him, this is a way of "raising the awareness of Azorean youngsters as well as of youngsters of Azorean descent to know their origins."

In his speech, the Regional Director also challenge the teachers attending this meeting to include in their curricula references "to the diversity of Azorean heritage, history, geographical and geological unique features of the Azores as well as to the persistence and greatness of the Azorean people, which includes the history of Azorean emigration."

The 22nd Meeting of Portuguese Teachers in the United States and Canada is being held at Terceira Academy of Arts and Youth. The event brings together several teachers from the United States, Canada, Mainland Portugal and the Azores, who will analyse and the debate the presence of Lusophony in U.S. and Canadian educational systems by encouraging the inclusion of other subjects in the curricula, such as the geography, history and culture of the Azores.