The Regional Director for Communities highlighted the importance of emigrant communities scattered around the world and considered them as "true embassies of Azoreanity." In this context, the government official challenged youngsters to "know and be proud" of the history of the Azorean people, "which was also made through emigration."

"We cannot and should not confine the Azores and Azoreanity to the territorial space of the archipelago. Our true size and scope must necessarily take into account the Azorean diaspora and their descendants," said Paulo Teves. The Regional Director spoke to junior high school students and teachers at Mouzinho da Silveira Basic Education School on the island of Corvo.

Paulo Teves spoke during the presentation of the project "Vivências da Nossa Gente" (The Life of our People), an initiative that marks the 60th anniversary of Azorean emigration to Canada. The government official stressed that "Azorean youngsters should play an increasingly relevant role" in promoting the Region and its potentialities by establishing an "effective link to youngsters of Azorean descent throughout the world."

The project "Vivências da Nossa Gente" began in the city of Horta on May 13. This initiative aims to promote the knowledge of the stories and life paths of pioneer emigrants through several accounts that depict the daily life of Azorean emigrants, starting in the 1950's, in their homeland and in their host communities.

This project has travelled to eight schools Azores so far, covering over more than 700 youngsters from the islands of Pico, Faial, Santa Maria, São Miguel, Flores and Corvo.

On Thursday, this initiative will be presented at Povoação Secondary School on the island of São Miguel.

From September 23 to October 2, the Regional Directorate for Communities will cover the remaining 13 regional schools on São Miguel (Laranjeiras, Domingos Rebelo, Ribeira Grande, Nordeste, Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo Schools), Terceira (Vitorino Nemésio, Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade and Tomás Borba Schools), São Jorge (Calheta and Velas Schools) and Graciosa.