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Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Maria João Carreiro defends that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
Maria João Carreiro defends that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Young Azoreans with new volunteering programme in the Region
Young Azoreans with new volunteering programme in the Region
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Government launches "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" roadmap to promote employment, mobility and volunteering opportunities for young people
Government launches "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" roadmap to promote employment, mobility and volunteering opportunities for young people
June 12, 2025
Maria João Carreiro defends that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
June 4, 2025
Young Azoreans with new volunteering programme in the Region
May 31, 2025
Government launches "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" roadmap to promote employment, mobility and volunteering opportunities for young people
News
Nota de Imprensa
June 12, 2025
Maria João Carreiro defends that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment defended today on São Jorge Island that "participatory democracy is not an abstract idea" and that the democratic process "has much to gain from the participation of young people." On this basis, the draft proposal for "DemocraciAZ - Regional Plan for Youth Literacy and Democratic Participation" will be submitted for approval to the Azores Government Council "very soon," stated Maria João Carreiro. This will be followed by a period of public consultation with citizens. The government official spoke at the opening session of the 3rd DemocraciAZ Seminar held at the Velas Municipal Auditorium. She explained that this Regional Plan is based on four areas of action and intervention: democratic literacy, electoral principles and systems, promotion of a participatory ecosystem and media education. "It is imperative to raise awareness among young people about the importance of democratic participation and the fulfilment of a responsibility that belongs to all of us, showing them that they also have power outside the ballot box and beyond election periods," she defended. Maria João Carreiro emphasised that "young people cannot regard politics as a distant activity," nor as an exercise that ends with voting, which is why “we need to open up politics to young citizens and bring politics into young people's lives.” As she explained, "democracy does not thrive on viral content and social media influencers but rather on citizens who recognise in this political and social organisation system the possibility of being both promoters and beneficiaries of the rights and duties it entails." According to the Secretary for Youth, the Azorean Government is working with a “spirit of commitment and willingness to engage in dialogue with young people” to “bring them closer to the democratic experience.” Since 2023, more than 2,600 young people have already participated in forums, meetings, gatherings and participatory activities. At the 3rd "DemocraciAZ" Seminar, 100 young students from São Jorge schools had the opportunity to attend and reflect on the presentation by Jorge Botelho Moniz, associate researcher at IPRI-NOVA and CIPES-Lusófona, addressing the theme of "Representative Democracy and the need to be the voice of citizens." This was followed by a round table discussion on "The individual responsibility of being the voice of a collective: the importance of youth and community representation,” featuring João Machado, Member of the Board of the National Youth Council; Tiago Félix, Member of the Velas Municipal Youth Council; Leoter Viegas, President of the Board of AIPA; and Jaime Vieira, President of the Student Association of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School. Eládio Braga, Regional Director for Youth, moderated the debate. The session also featured performances by local musicians, namely Diogo “NTK” Teixeira. Among others, the seminar was attended by the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Paulo Silveira and Maria Isabel Teixeira, the Vice-President of the School Board of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School, Salomé Nico, and the President of theSchool Board of São Jorge Vocational School, Dário Fonseca.
June 12, 2025
Maria João Carreiro defends that “participatory democracy is not an abstract idea”
The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment defended today on São Jorge Island that "participatory democracy is not an abstract idea" and that the democratic process "has much to gain from the participation of young people." On this basis, the draft proposal for "DemocraciAZ - Regional Plan for Youth Literacy and Democratic Participation" will be submitted for approval to the Azores Government Council "very soon," stated Maria João Carreiro. This will be followed by a period of public consultation with citizens. The government official spoke at the opening session of the 3rd DemocraciAZ Seminar held at the Velas Municipal Auditorium. She explained that this Regional Plan is based on four areas of action and intervention: democratic literacy, electoral principles and systems, promotion of a participatory ecosystem and media education. "It is imperative to raise awareness among young people about the importance of democratic participation and the fulfilment of a responsibility that belongs to all of us, showing them that they also have power outside the ballot box and beyond election periods," she defended. Maria João Carreiro emphasised that "young people cannot regard politics as a distant activity," nor as an exercise that ends with voting, which is why “we need to open up politics to young citizens and bring politics into young people's lives.” As she explained, "democracy does not thrive on viral content and social media influencers but rather on citizens who recognise in this political and social organisation system the possibility of being both promoters and beneficiaries of the rights and duties it entails." According to the Secretary for Youth, the Azorean Government is working with a “spirit of commitment and willingness to engage in dialogue with young people” to “bring them closer to the democratic experience.” Since 2023, more than 2,600 young people have already participated in forums, meetings, gatherings and participatory activities. At the 3rd "DemocraciAZ" Seminar, 100 young students from São Jorge schools had the opportunity to attend and reflect on the presentation by Jorge Botelho Moniz, associate researcher at IPRI-NOVA and CIPES-Lusófona, addressing the theme of "Representative Democracy and the need to be the voice of citizens." This was followed by a round table discussion on "The individual responsibility of being the voice of a collective: the importance of youth and community representation,” featuring João Machado, Member of the Board of the National Youth Council; Tiago Félix, Member of the Velas Municipal Youth Council; Leoter Viegas, President of the Board of AIPA; and Jaime Vieira, President of the Student Association of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School. Eládio Braga, Regional Director for Youth, moderated the debate. The session also featured performances by local musicians, namely Diogo “NTK” Teixeira. Among others, the seminar was attended by the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Paulo Silveira and Maria Isabel Teixeira, the Vice-President of the School Board of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School, Salomé Nico, and the President of theSchool Board of São Jorge Vocational School, Dário Fonseca.
Nota de Imprensa
June 4, 2025
Young Azoreans with new volunteering programme in the Region
Young Azoreans interested in volunteering will have access to REDES - Regional Youth Volunteering Network, the new programme to support youth volunteering in the Azores, as announced today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment. Maria João Carreiro spoke in Lajes do Pico, Pico Island, during the opening session of the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES – Get to know your DRJ!" guide. She explained that the regulations for this new programme are being finalised and will be published shortly in the Official Journal, with the application period expected to begin in June. Young people aged between 15 and 28, regardless of their level of education and professional situation, will be able to join a REDES project. This programme includes two categories: one is "short-term," for projects lasting 1 to 5 days, such as renovating a house or collecting stray animals, among other social and community projects; and the other is"regular," for projects lasting 3 to 9 months that will be developed in institutions with permanent activity, such as nursing homes and disability support associations, among others that have as their main activities those provided for in volunteering. In "short-term" projects, young people receive a grant ranging from 21 to 75 Euros, while in "regular" projects, the monthly grant can reach €180, for a total of €1,620, if the young person completes nine months of volunteering. "With this new programme, we want to highlight the importance of volunteering for personal, social and community development, through the sharing of knowledge, practices, perspectives and interventions leading to the acquisition of skills that are crucial in the training of young people," explained the Regional Secretary. With a view to the successful implementation of this programme, Maria João Carreiro called for the participation of entities, including IPSS (Private Social Solidarity Institutions), non-profit associations and others. According to her, they "are essential for the application of volunteering projects" in which young people will certainly want to be involved and contribute. "While it is true that youth programmes cannot exist without young people, it is also true that entities, associations and organisations are essential in promoting these programmes for our young people," she stressed. Based on this assumption, the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" roadmap will include in its interactive sessions not only young people but also entities that can present and promote each of the more than 10 DRJ (Regional Directorate for Youth) programmes in areas such as youth associations, creativity and innovation, entrepreneurship, mobility, employment, training, and volunteering. "Just as we want to extend information to young people and break down barriers to their participation in the programmes, we are aware that this information and awareness-raising work has to reach the organisations so that they can, in even greater numbers, propose and promote projects tailored to young people's interests and expectations," she said. The opening session of the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" programme, which made its debut at the Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School, was attended by, among other guests, the Deputy Mayor of Lajes do Pico, Manuel Pimentel; the Mayor of São Roque do Pico, Luís Filipe Silva; the Deputy Mayor of Madalena, Mário Silva; the President of the Board of the Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School, José Ferreira, and the Regional Director for Youth, Eládio Braga.
June 4, 2025
Young Azoreans with new volunteering programme in the Region
Young Azoreans interested in volunteering will have access to REDES - Regional Youth Volunteering Network, the new programme to support youth volunteering in the Azores, as announced today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment. Maria João Carreiro spoke in Lajes do Pico, Pico Island, during the opening session of the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES – Get to know your DRJ!" guide. She explained that the regulations for this new programme are being finalised and will be published shortly in the Official Journal, with the application period expected to begin in June. Young people aged between 15 and 28, regardless of their level of education and professional situation, will be able to join a REDES project. This programme includes two categories: one is "short-term," for projects lasting 1 to 5 days, such as renovating a house or collecting stray animals, among other social and community projects; and the other is"regular," for projects lasting 3 to 9 months that will be developed in institutions with permanent activity, such as nursing homes and disability support associations, among others that have as their main activities those provided for in volunteering. In "short-term" projects, young people receive a grant ranging from 21 to 75 Euros, while in "regular" projects, the monthly grant can reach €180, for a total of €1,620, if the young person completes nine months of volunteering. "With this new programme, we want to highlight the importance of volunteering for personal, social and community development, through the sharing of knowledge, practices, perspectives and interventions leading to the acquisition of skills that are crucial in the training of young people," explained the Regional Secretary. With a view to the successful implementation of this programme, Maria João Carreiro called for the participation of entities, including IPSS (Private Social Solidarity Institutions), non-profit associations and others. According to her, they "are essential for the application of volunteering projects" in which young people will certainly want to be involved and contribute. "While it is true that youth programmes cannot exist without young people, it is also true that entities, associations and organisations are essential in promoting these programmes for our young people," she stressed. Based on this assumption, the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" roadmap will include in its interactive sessions not only young people but also entities that can present and promote each of the more than 10 DRJ (Regional Directorate for Youth) programmes in areas such as youth associations, creativity and innovation, entrepreneurship, mobility, employment, training, and volunteering. "Just as we want to extend information to young people and break down barriers to their participation in the programmes, we are aware that this information and awareness-raising work has to reach the organisations so that they can, in even greater numbers, propose and promote projects tailored to young people's interests and expectations," she said. The opening session of the "JUVENTUDE.AZORES" programme, which made its debut at the Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School, was attended by, among other guests, the Deputy Mayor of Lajes do Pico, Manuel Pimentel; the Mayor of São Roque do Pico, Luís Filipe Silva; the Deputy Mayor of Madalena, Mário Silva; the President of the Board of the Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School, José Ferreira, and the Regional Director for Youth, Eládio Braga.