The Government of the Azores encouraged regional schools to engage in volunteering. This is a "challenge" that aims to raise the awareness of youngsters for volunteering as a way of becoming "the builders of a more cohesive society."

The challenge was launched by the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity. The government official spoke during the public presentation of the "Escola + Voluntária" programme (schools engaged in voluntary work) at Antero de Quental Secondary School in Ponta Delgada. The presentation session was also attended by the Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture.

This programme was developed by the Government of the Azores in partnership with the Regional Secretariats for Social Solidarity and for Education, Science and Culture. It is targeted at middle school, junior and senior high school students as well as at students attending vocational training schools.
 
With this initiative, the Azorean Government intends to recognise and encourage projects that promote voluntary work in a school environment.
"Our challenge is to stimulate an attitude that promotes social inclusion, stressed Piedade Lalanda, for whom "volunteering is a tool to combat social exclusion," being also "a tool against indifference."

"We need to be concerned about the others. We must focus our attention on others so that truly citizenship may become a reality," said the government official.

In this context, the Regional Secretary stated that "Escola + Voluntária" programme is an initiative intended to open schools to the surrounding community as well as to promote "positive practices and values."

On the occasion, the Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture, Luiz Fagundes Duarte, considered that Antero de Quental was, for this life and work, "one of the greatest examples of volunteering at various levels." In this context, the government official emphasised the role played by Antero de Quental in the political field as "he fought for democracy, freedom of expression and the right to vote."

"Each person can give something within their possibilities and skills - either in music, sport, literature or plastic arts -, so that others can have the same opportunities and the possibility of triumphing," stressed the government official.

For Luiz Fagundes Duarte, "when schools become involved in the training of youngsters by developing their capacity to leave themselves and enter in the world of others to provide their contribution, they will be playing one of their most important roles." Accordingly, "we will be able to build a fairer society, if we invest in the training of citizens."

Under this initiative, the educational establishment with the winning project will have the opportunity of hoisting the flag of the "Escola + Voluntária" programme.

 Art Students from Antero de Quental Secondary School on São Miguel Island will be in charge of designing a logo, which will be the programme's symbol.