The Government of the Azores promotes from Saturday, October 26, the "Missing the Azores" programme, an initiative that provides emigrants who have not visited the Azores for more than two decades due to economic difficulties with the opportunity of visiting the Region.

The programme covers citizens over 60 who were born in the Azores and are currently living in Brazil, Canada, United States and Bermuda. This initiative is the result of a partnership between the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and Grupo SATA.

A total of 11 participants, aged between 61 and 87, living in the United States, Canada and Brazil were selected for this year's edition.

These 11 Azorean emigrants, most of whom have not visited the archipelago for more than 30 years, will have the possibility of visiting their homeland once again, revisiting places, family and friends, and the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the current reality of the Azores.

From October 26 to November 2, participants will visit all the municipalities of São Miguel. The programme will cover the island's main tourist and cultural sites in addition to providing visitors with the possibility of having a closer contact with traditional economic activities.

Regarding the selection of participants, the "Missing the Azores" programme counts on the collaboration of various social support institutions headquartered in North America, Bermuda and Brazil.

In Canada, the partner institutions of this programme are the following: Abrigo Centre (Toronto), Mission Sainte-Croix (Montreal), Centre d’action socio-communautaire de Montréal, Working Women Community Centre (Toronto), Portuguese Culture Centre (Edmonton) and the Houses of the Azores of Ontario, Quebec and Winnipeg.

In turn, the institutions collaborating with this initiative in the United States are the following: SER - Jobs for Progress (Fall River), MAPS - Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (Cambridge), POSSO – Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (California), V.A.L.E.R – Valley Area Living Resources (California), Catholic Social Services (Fall River), IAC – Immigrants Assistance Centre (New Bedford) and the House of the Azores of New England.

In Brazil, this programme counts on the support of the Houses of the Azores of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, while in Bermuda the initiative is supported by the Vasco da Gama Club.