The Regional Secretary of the Presidency urged Azorean youngsters “to become acquainted with the opportunities offered by the European Union in areas such as youth training, youth mobility and projects as well as to take up these opportunities for their personal benefit and for the Region’s.”

“The European Union is concerned to instil, among youngsters, the values of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance, implementing measures to promote mobility in the EU borders as well as the intercultural dialogue,” André Bradford stated, mentioning some examples of Azorean youngsters who have dared to seize opportunities abroad, achieving recognition at a European level in areas such as music, dance and fashion.

André Bradford spoke, on behalf of the President of the Government, at the celebrations of the European Day, held at the Graciosa Basic Education and Secondary School. This event was also attended by nearly two hundred youngsters from various Azorean islands.

In addition to several moments of classical music, poetry and dance, provided by the students from the Graciosa Basic Education and Secondary School, the final round of the contest “Europe Quiz– The Azores and the European Union” was also held under the celebrations of the European Day, involving the participation of the winning teams of the multimedia contest “Açores, 25 anos na União Europeia” (Azores, 25 years in the European Union), promoted by the Azorean Government.

The solemn session, presided over by the Secretary of the Presidency, was followed by announcement and awarding of the prizes of both contests. The team “As Divas,” from Velas School, was the winner of the multimedia contest. With regard to the contest “Europe Quiz,” the team “Blueteam,” from Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School, won the first prize, a trip to Brussels; the teams “Flowerforce,” from Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, and “Os Mamutes,” from Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade Secondary School, were placed second and third, respectively. 

“Azorean youngsters should benefit more from programmes such as Erasmus, Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci or Eurodyssey, among others, such as “Youth in Action”  as these initiatives will enable them to return with more knowledge, more technical skills, personal enrichment and, certainly, better prepared for the challenges their Region is facing,” concluded André Bradford.