The Regional Director for Youth announced today in Horta the beginning of this year's edition of the Youth Free Time Occupation Programme - OTL-J, an initiative promoted by the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Youth.
Lúcio Rodrigues accompanied the first day of the summer activities of young people enrolled in Horta Nautical Club, stressing that, for the Regional Government, young Azoreans "are the present and the future."
"This is why we invest every year in this programme, involving more than 3,200 young Azoreans in holiday occupations in 2019, a very important initiative implemented on the nine islands of the Azores," emphasised the Regional Director. He noted that "the changes made to the programme in 2018" were consolidated this year based on young people's feedback, which is expected to be another tool for our young people."
Lúcio Rodrigues pointed out that "there has been an increase in the number of projects submitted by the entities promoting youth occupation initiatives," allowing the participation of more young people. According to him, "it evidences the value of our youth and the Regional Government's ability to redesign programmes that keep up with the evolution of times as well as their attractiveness."
"We are increasingly involving young Azoreans throughout the archipelago in free time occupation activities, through a positive that suits all young people. In fact, it instils in young people the responsibility of becoming part of an institution, gain insight of what is to be involved in an organisation and acquiring knowledge on the labour world," stressed the government official.
Lúcio Rodrigues reiterated that OTL-J should not be regarded as "an employment programme because it is not," noting that this programme is aimed at fulfilling the "strategic guidelines set out by the Regional Government youth, which acknowledges the importance of youth."
"The OTL-J Programme is not a passive occupation of leisure time, but rather a promotion of proactivity with the aim of providing young people with an innovative way of occupying their free time. It contributes to their non-formal education, through the acquisition of new knowledge, as well as to the exchange of social and professional experiences decisive for the formation of qualified and responsible citizens," stated the Regional Director.