The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated in Ribeira Grande that the Government of the Azores has invested "nearly 22 million Euros in childhood and youth, covering more than 60 day nurseries, located throughout the Region, with response capacity to 2,300 children."
 
Andreia Cardoso spoke at the opening of the 10th Childhood Days - 1st International Forum, an initiative focused on the experience of children in day care. The government official highlighted some of the ongoing projects on the island of São Miguel, such as the case of Joaninha Day Nursery, run by "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Ponta Delgada, and similar infrastructures in the municipalities of Village, Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo.
 
"The education of children has long ceased to be limited to the family sphere as it currently encompassing new partners. Hence, it is even more important to ensure that the care provided is guaranteed with quality and safety at the institutions that parents chose for their children," stressed Andreia Cardoso.
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that, although we are going through a period that requires the awarding of high priority status to investments with immediate return and with capacity to create jobs, the Regional Government "will continue to engage in the effort devoted to supporting families and to the education of children and young people."
 
For Andreia Cardoso, "the reduction of inequalities in childhood and the investment in childcare and pre-school education are fundamental in the regional strategy for combating poverty and social exclusion."
 
The Regional Secretary also noted the "enormous contribution" of initiatives like the one held today to the progress in this area, stressing that they "allow the sharing of good practices and the improvement in the training of human resources in a consistent and progressive manner."