Regional Government prepares to celebrate "European Year of Youth and the Future," announces Rui Bettencourt
The Regional Government will organise several events directed to Azorean youth throughout this year under the celebrations of the "European Year of Youth and the Future," announced the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relation on São Jorge.
Rui Bettencourt spoke at Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School during the presentation of the "Entrepreneurial Education: The Path to Success" project, which acquired this year an international dimension, and it is up to the Azores to represent Portugal.
Held under the Government's statutory visit, this session was also attended by the Regional Secretary for Education and Culture, Avelino Meneses, and the Regional Assistant Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, Berto Messias.
"During this year, we will organise various activities such as multimedia contests, plays, conferences, debates and the celebrations of Europe Day. All of them of will focus on these three themes that are fundamental to us," the Regional Secretary said, alluding to Europe, youth and the future.
The European years are intended to draw attention to a specific theme in order to promote debate and dialogue at a European, national and local level, with the aim of raising public opinion for certain matters, encouraging debate and changing mindsets.
Rui Bettencourt urged young people "not give up on building their own future, building the future of the Azores and of Europe itself," warning that "if they do not do it, others will choose for them."
The Regional Secretary considered that the Azores "have a remarkably interesting position in the European Union" for being are "one of the nine Outermost Regions with strong convictions."
"We are part of the European Union, forming a cultural and historical whole with 500 million inhabitants, so we have the right and the duty to participate in the European decision-making process," said Rui Bettencourt.
The Regional Secretary also challenged young people not to copy their elders, but rather to "do better than them," considering that "young Azoreans are a crucial asset for our future and the European future."
This idea was also reinforced by Berto Messias, Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs, who recalled that "the Azores we will have 50 years from now will be built by young people of today."