Region hosts national meeting of youth associations in September - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The Azores will host the "Atlantic Democracy Forum" in Ponta Delgada from September 27 to 29, promoted by the National Federation of Youth Associations (FNAJ), in partnership with the Regional Government, Maria João Carreiro announced today.

This national meeting of youth associations will take place at the Aula Magna and bring together researchers and public decision-makers to reflect on Democracy and Media Education, added the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment.

The Secretary for Youth spoke in Ponta Delgada at the opening of the 2nd Seminar "DemocraciAZ - Regional Plan for Youth Literacy and Democratic Participation," organised by the Regional Directorate for Youth and dedicated to media education.

"Disinformation, fake news, and populism are not just future threats; they already exist today. They pose risks to the exercise of informed and critical citizenship, and they threaten the right to information, as well as a healthy, plural, and inclusive democratic experience without extremism," she emphasized.

In this context, she continued, "We must take up the task and responsibility of creating synergies that will involve society and the relevant entities, including the media - the Fourth Estate - in the training, information, awareness-raising and involvement of young people in building a healthy society."

In 2023, more than 600 young people from Santa Maria to Corvo participatedin the consultation and debate forums organised by the Regional Directorate for Youth, such as InterAJ for association leaders and Euroclasses to raise awareness about the European vote.  

Among these young people are the more than 350 from all islands who took part in the "Youth with a Voice" meetings, which resulted in more than 50 proposals for actions and initiatives to be included in DemocraciAZ, whose preliminary proposal will be presented in August.

The seminar featured the presentation of preliminary findings from the study on Literacy and Democratic Participation of Young People, commissioned by the Regional Directorate for Youth to the Azores Youth Observatory and coordinated by Fernando Diogo.

Only five out of every 10 young Azoreans aged between 18 and 30 show some or a lot of interest in politics, while in the 12 to 17 age group only 3 out of every 10 young Azoreans show the same level of interest.

In both age groups, six out of ten young Azoreans do not belong to any organisation, with the youngest being more likely to do so. Sports associations are more prevalent in both age groups.

Maria João Carreiro believes that young people "are showing clear signs that we need to recreate incentives to mobilise them to actively participate in building their common destiny."

The 2nd "DemocraciAZ" Seminar took place at the São Brás Fort and included a round table on "The Role of the Media in Media Education and Democracy." It featured Rui Goulart, Director of RTP/Açores, Inês Linhares Dias, Journalist at Antena 1/Açores, Nuno Martins Neves, Journalist at Açoriano Oriental newspaper and Teresa Tiago, Lecturer at the University of the Azores, with moderation by Paulo Simões, Member of the Azorean Parliament.

During the Seminar, which began with the Wind Quartet of the Army Band, there was also a session on "Combating Fake News," with António Sá Rodrigues, Journalist and Delegate of the Lusa agency in the Azores, a session on "Security Habits and Digital Hygiene," with the Disconnect Association, and a session on Artificial Intelligence, with Roberto Lino, CEO of AZORESX.