The Government of the Azores, through the Cabinet of the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, is developing the "I A.M." project, an initiative that falls within the programme designated as "European Citizenship - Europe for Azoreans." It will cover all elementary schools of the archipelago, addressing topics related to Europe and citizenship to 4th form students in a fun and educational way.
 
For the Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External relations, this initiative is a "very interesting" way to teach and help youngsters discovering "what is European citizenship"
 
At the start of this project, Rui Bettencourt stressed the "large participation of youngsters" who took part in this initiative. In this context, he stressed the recreational and interaction component that allowed them to "identify European issues, citizenship and the rights and duties of every citizen."
 
"We are aware that this European citizenship programme should cover all Azoreans citizens, from the youngest to the oldest," stressed Rui Bettencourt. He added that this specific programme "will cover regional schools in order to bring European topics in a fun way, through a game and four European young people, who dialogue with 4th form students."
 
The project begins with the narration of a story specifically created for this purpose that is told through four puppets with different personalities, focusing primarily on the topics of citizenship and interpersonal relationships.
 
It is followed by the projection of images and a brief explanation about the history of the European Union and its values in a moment of interaction between characters and participants. The session ends with the game of the goose - "I am."
 
The "I A.M." project is one of three actions of the axis "Europe at School," which is part of "European Citizenship - Europe for Azoreans" programme.
 
The other two actions include a field study and training activities to be developed among students enrolled in junior high school, secondary school and vocational training schools and the initiative designated as "9 islands, 11 actions"; the latter consists of artistic interventions in schools among elementary school students to be developed in 2018.
 
This project will cover 140 schools from all over the archipelago and nearly 3,000 students.
 
On the island of São Miguel, where this initiative began, the project is being developed in conjunction with the Art Education Association - Solidaried'Arte. It has already programmed an itinerary for the sessions to be held by the end of this school year.
 
Next week, the project will be developed among all 4th form students on the island of Graciosa.