Group of Students from Lagoa Secondary School win "Azores: Sea of Cultures" Contest
The group of students from Lagoa Secondary School, consisting of students Álvaro Borges, Diogo Amaral and Tiago Couto won the third edition of the "Azores: Cultures Sea" context, as announced by the Regional Government.
Promoted by the Regional Directorate for Communities, the initiative aimed to promote an in-depth knowledge of migration in the Azores in terms of emigration and immigration. It was also intended to raise the awareness of young people for the socio-economic and cultural relevance of migrations.
The contest, held during the school year, was addressed to all 10th and 11th form students enrolled at regional schools as well as to the students attending the first two years of level 4 vocational training courses.
The winning work, titled "Azores: dynamics of departures and returns of people," was presented in journalistic report format. It addressed the different issues related to the migration process, the evolution of this process in the Region in the context of globalisation and its interaction with host societies.
Students interviewed immigrants living in the archipelago, Azorean emigrants and institutions working in this area.
The contest encouraged students, organised in groups of three and under the guidance of a teacher, to submit a work in video format depicting the theme of migration, presented in the form of journalistic report, without neglecting the historical and creative component.
The works in competition were evaluated by a jury that included Célia Pereira (Cresaçor Migrant Support Office), Herberto Gomes (RTP Açores), Luís Silva (Association of Azorean Emigrants), Manuel Bernardo Cabral (director), Paulo Mendes (Azores Immigrant Association-AIPA) and Telma Silva (Regional Directorate for Communities).
With this project, young students intended to provide information on the integration of immigrants in the archipelago as well as on the integration of the Azoreans who emigrated to various destinations throughout the world, thus promoting interculturalism and disseminating the emotional link between the Azorean residents and emigrants.
The winning team and the teacher responsible for the project; Ana Isabel Moniz, will win a trip to Brazil to be held during the month of September, during which they will have the opportunity to become acquainted with the culture and traditions of the country hosting one of the most important Azorean communities in the Diaspora. This country is also the homeland of one of the most representative immigrant community in the Azores.
The visit to Brazil will be organised by the Regional Directorate for Communities in cooperation with the Houses of the Azores of São Paulo and Santa Catarina.