REDES programme with youth volunteer projects in the Region - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

More than 90 young people living in the Azores have already applied for the REDES programme – Regional Youth Volunteering Network, with 44 young people already placed. Applications for this programme, promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment and run by the Regional Directorate for Youth, are open to young people and organisations at juventude.azores.gov.pt.

All young people already placed in REDES opted for regular volunteer projects lasting three to nine months in institutions or associations active in the areas of culture, social inclusion, sport, the environment, health and prevention of risk behaviour, social support for children, young people, seniors and people with disabilities, animal welfare, among other areas of action.

Young people involved in regular volunteer projects are awarded a monthly grant of up to €180, totalling €1,620, if they complete nine months of volunteering.

REDES also includes a category for short-term volunteer projects. In this category, which includes volunteering projects for renovating a house or collecting animals, projects last between one and five days, for a total of 25 hours. Young people are eligible for a grant ranging from €21 to €75.

The organisations with approved projects, details of the projects and the number of vacancies available are listed and can be found at https://juventude.azores.gov.pt/programa/redes/, where young people interested in volunteering can submit their applications.

Currently, 21 applications from organisations have been approved for 31 vacancies on regular volunteering projects in São Miguel, Pico, Terceira, Graciosa and São Jorge. In turn, nine applications from organisations have been approved for 31 vacancies on short-term projects in São Miguel, Pico and Terceira. 

REDES is aimed at young people residing in the Azores, aged between 15 and 28 at the time of application. It seeks to promote opportunities for the development of personal and technical skills, as well as for the exercise of active and supportive citizenship in activities contributing to their communities. 

Youth associations and youth-oriented associations, student associations registered in the Azorean Register of Youth Associations, public entities, Private Social Solidarity Institutions, sports clubs, or other non-governmental and civil society organisations with projects aligned with the programme's areas may apply for volunteer projects.

REDES - Regional Youth Volunteering Network was announced in June this year by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, in Lajes do Pico, on the island of Pico.  

As Maria João Carreiro explained at the time, the Azorean Government wants, with this new programme, "to highlight the importance of volunteering for personal and social development of young people." In this regard, she called for the participation of entities willing to create volunteering projects that with the potential to add value to institutions and young people."