The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, in partnership with Azores Express and SATA promotes the tenth edition of "Missing the Azores" programme from November 3 to 10, 2012.

The initiative aims to provide citizens over 60 who were born in the Autonomous Region of the Azores currently living in the USA, Canada, Bermudas or Brazil, who have not visited the archipelago for more than two decades due to economic difficulties with the opportunity to visit their homeland as well as to contact with family and friends.

This year the initiative will bring together 17 participants from the United States, Canada and Brazil, who will have the opportunity of visiting several municipalities of São Miguel as well as their most important sites of tourist and cultural interest. The programme also includes a visit to Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Social and Parish Centre where the group will participate in an intergenerational gathering organised in the context of the activities developed that centre.

The "Missing the Azores" programme counts on the support of various social support institutions in the communities and the Azores: Abrigo Centre in Toronto; Ser- Jobs for Progress in Fall River; POSSO and VALER community centres in California; House of the Azores of São Paulo in Brazil; Emigration Museum; Ribeira Grande Museum; Cresaçor and Alecrim Dourado Association.