The Regional Director for Communities spoke in Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, praising the work of municipalities in supporting the "maintenance and preservation of the history and identity of their societies, strongly rooted in 'Azoreanity.'"

Paulo Teves spoke Monday at the end of a meeting with the Mayor of Itajaí, Jandir Bellini, highlighting the importance given by this municipality "to Azorean roots among young people, through an in-depth knowledge on the Azorean presence that has been part of the identity of Itajaí since the 18th century." This municipality is located in the coastal central region of Santa Catarina. With over 200 thousand inhabitants, it has the highest GDP "per capita" of this Brazilian state.

"We are pleased to note that there has been a growing interest, at a municipal level, in the strengthening of relations between the communities of Azorean descent and the Region," the government official said, ensuring that the "Government of the Azores is strongly committed to maintaining this relation and reinforce areas of intervention."

For Paulo Teves, the work, in addition to disseminating cultural aspects, contributes to "the dissemination of our societies outside their territorial spaces," such as the example of the support allocated by the municipality of Itajaí to the visit made by students from Judith Duarte de Oliveira Basic Education School to the Azores, as well as audiovisual projects "addressing the tangible and intangible heritage in numerous municipalities in the State of Santa Catarina."

During his visit to Brazil, the Regional Director met with students, teachers and board of this school. The visit also included the presentation of a series of activities about the Azorean presence in southern Brazil.

At the occasion, Paulo Teves reiterated the availability of the Azorean Government to support projects that promote the relation of the Diaspora with the Azores with the aim of enhancing the knowledge on the reality of the archipelago and recognising the value of the actions intended to make "young people better acquainted with the history of the Azorean People in the world."

Under the project "Cultural Exchange: Travelling in the Wings of Knowledge," a group of 22 students from teachers Judith Duarte de Oliveira Basic Education School, who were accompanied by teachers and parents, visited the Azores in June, namely the islands of Pico, São Jorge and Faial. This initiative was organised in partnership with São Roque do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School and had the support of the Regional Directorate for Communities.

This initiative falls within the school project "Rescuing Roots," developed by the teachers of this school with the aim of starting the rescue of cultural roots and encouraging students to acknowledge the value of Azorean cultural manifestations.

"After 260 years of the arrival of Azoreans in this territory, the presence of their identity is indisputable in music, cuisine, architecture, language and in many other areas," said Paulo Teves. The government official emphasised the way how this school addressed the topic of 'Azoreanity' by bringing together students, families, government institutions and cultural associations, thus promoting a "dynamic and inclusive action."