Diaspora plays important role in disseminating the Azores abroad, says Regional Director for the Communities
The Regional Director for the Communities highlighted in Ponta Delgada the important role of the diaspora in disseminating the Azores in the societies where Azorean communities are established.
"It is fundamental that the Azoreans and the Azorean descendants living in these communities maintain actual and permanent ties with the Azores," said Paulo Teves. As he emphasised, this should not only happen through constant visits but also "through various identity manifestations of the archipelago's identity in host societies."
Paulo Teves highlighted "the pride that many Azoreans residing abroad feel in their land of origin and in the way they disseminate it," pointing out the example of the groups from various educational establishments that wish to know the archipelago.
"The student exchanges between the diaspora and the Azores contribute to the promotion of the Region as well as to the greater proximity of both sides of the Atlantic," said the Regional Director. He spoke Wednesday at a meeting with a group of students attending the Photography Course at the Department of Fine Arts of the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, USA.
According to the Regional Director, these projects are "relevant" as far as they "are an opportunity for knowing the current reality of the archipelago on the part of those who, not being born or having family ties to the Azores, share the geographical space of the Azorean diaspora."
"The work that has been carried out by these students, after the very close contact they had with the Azorean community, is the evidence that there is a constant need and desire of our diaspora to disseminate the Azores and the best we have to offer," said Paulo Teves.
The Regional Director for the Communities also noted that the results of this project, which will culminate in an exhibition in a public space at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, "will further enhance the visibility of the Azores and the work they have carried out in the archipelago."
The group, composed of 11 students and a teacher, will be in the Azores until May 29, visiting the islands of São Miguel, Graciosa and Terceira. This initiative is supported by the Regional Government.
In addressing reading, research and photography in the areas of cultural studies, history, and oral and folk literature, the course to development students' skills to document stories through the production of written and audiovisual materials. In this particularly, it will focus on the ties between the community of Lowell in Massachusetts and the archipelago of the Azores.
After the research, students will have the opportunity to become better acquainted with various sites of cultural and heritage interest and as well as those linked to agricultural, fishing and industrial production. Additionally, they will also participate in various events and visit the University of the Azores.