Regional Director for Youth highlights "Study and Jump" project under Youth+ social entrepreneurship programme
The Regional Director for Youth pointed out in Angra do Heroísmo the commitment and work developed by the Board of "Casa do Povo" of Santa Bárbara throughout the "Study and Jump" project.
Pilar Damião spoke at the presentation of the project, stressing that this work was carried out due to the common will between partners at a regional and local level.
"This project evidences that we are all working for the same goal: create an autonomous Azorean youth endowed with a wide range of key skills that is able to face the challenges of the future with greater confidence," said the Regional Director.
"Study and Jump" is carried out under the Youth + programme, an initiative of the Government that aims to encourage young social entrepreneurship. It has been a "strong commitment" of the Regional Directorate for Youth.
In her speech, Pilar Damião pointed out that young social entrepreneurship is the "process of seeking and implementing innovative and sustainable social solutions" that translates into "the creation and development of alternative and more efficient social responses" for young people.
Taking into account the urgency in working with young people at risk, and as a response to the social vulnerability of some young people," the Regional Director for Youth has supported projects intended to reduce risk factors by reinforcing the conditions that allow a healthy and harmonious growth, and decreasing early school dropout," added the government official.
Developed by the "Casa do Povo" of Santa Bárbara, the "Study and Jump" project aims to prevent school failure and dropout, increase motivation for learning, encouraging creativity and self-initiative, autonomy and self-esteem. Moreover, this initiative also intends to stimulate team work and mutual aid, promote healthy lifestyles, stimulate active citizenship and encourage the creation of personal goals.
Directed to 128 school-aged youngsters, the initiatives aims to follow up the study of young people in a systemic and innovative manner throughout the school year, creating goals that, when accomplished, allow them to participate in adventure sports.
The priority areas of intervention of "Youth+" are the prevention of early school dropout, the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities, the promotion of youth volunteering and the encouragement of entrepreneurship and employability of young people.