Daycare coverage in all municipalities of the Azores strengthens social and territorial cohesion, says Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government stated today that, as for support to childhood and youth, the legislative period has provided the 19 regional municipalities with daycare nurseries. These investments are regarded as fundamental to strengthening social and territorial cohesion in the Region.
"In this term, we have accomplished the goal to provide all municipalities in the archipelago with this type of infrastructure, which is also a factor of social and territorial cohesion. In fact, it is a service that is made available to families, thus contributing to their maintenance in their area of residence as well as to the establishment of residence in places other than just urban centres," said Vasco Cordeiro.
The President of the Government spoke at the ceremony of laying of the first stone of the Intergenerational Centre of Vila Franca do Campo, located in the village of Ponta Garça. This investment over two million Euros will include a daycare nursery with capacity for 42 children and a Free Time Activity Centre that will serve fifty children.
This intervention promoted by the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Vila Franca do Campo also includes the construction of a Day Centre and a Night Centre.
In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that this legislative period has resulted in a public investment of nearly 30 million Euros in infrastructures for childhood and youth, creating conditions to benefit about 10,500 children throughout the archipelago.
In regard to the future Intergenerational Centre, the President of the Government stressed that it is another infrastructure at the service of children and Ponta Garça families, and will contribute to the cohesion of the entire Region.
"It represents a very clear investment in the creation of conditions so that the Azoreans of tomorrow may also have, in terms of infrastructures, the best conditions for their development," said Vasco Cordeiro.
In addition, the investment is also a way to support families since it provides all the conditions to ensure the safety of children. Moreover, it contributes to the personal and professional fulfilment of families.
The President of the Government also assured that the support to Azorean families takes the shape of a series of other measures, pointing out, as example, the increase in the Family Allowance Supplement for Children and Youth, which registered an increase of 15 percent.
"This is the first phase of the works, directed to children, with the construction of a daycare nursery and a Free Time Activity Centre. Nevertheless, we also want to create the conditions to strengthen the relationship between our elders and our youth," said the President of the Government. In this regard, he emphasised that the Intergenerational Centre of Vila Franca do Campo will allow "the elderly, who are more experienced, to share with younger generations their life paths, our traditions and our identity."
"In particularly demanding times, we have assumed, from the very beginning, the motto 'leave no one behind' - this investment is a tribute to it - and to help people within the limits of our powers and resources, especially those who are in a most fragile situation," said Vasco Cordeiro.