Session with José Manuel Bolieiro marks "Reading Week" at Manuel de Arriaga School - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, participated in a reading session with students from the Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School in Horta, as part of the "Reading Week" initiative organised by the school library.

The head of the Azorean Government presented the book "O que é amar um país" (What it means to love a country) by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça. This work focuses on the speech delivered by the author as President of the Organising Committee for the Celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities in 2020.

José Manuel Bolieiro emphasised the significance of this work as a "testimonial to civic responsibility" and "commitment" to history, culture and the people who make up the national community. He also noted that loving a country requires attention to its transformations, the difficulties it faces and the specific needs of its citizens, requiring active involvement in building solutions and strengthening collective well-being.

"Reading is an act of citizenship that allows us to understand the world better, communicate more clearly and think more critically," he noted.

The President of the Government also took the opportunity to point out that the habit of reading should be encouraged from an early age, as a means of personal and social development.

He added: "Reading broadens knowledge, stimulates creativity, improves communication and promotes empathy by bringing us into contact with different experiences and realities."

During the meeting, the President of the Government also talked to the students, who asked questions about his personal life, career and literary tastes. 

This created a moment of closeness and sharing, where the students got to know the President of the Government better by reading a book of his choice.

At the end of the session, José Manuel Bolieiro praised the work of the school library and its team, highlighting the importance of such initiatives.

"This is a particularly successful initiative, for the way it has promoted reading and brought young people closer to reflecting on the society in which they live," he concluded.