Pro-Emprego and Reativar programmes were highlighted in the 2012 April/June newsletter issued by the Institute for the Management of the European Social Fund.

The newsletter stressed three success stories of people who have resorted to the Regional Government's programmes, which are also financed by the European Social Fund, to complete their education, create jobs and dedicate to scientific research.

Natália Bolarinho has attended a training course on Family Assistance and Community Support for 18 months. With this training, carried out under the Reativar programme and supported by Pro-Emprego, Natália Bolarinho was able to complete the 9th form. She now expects to create a small company dedicated to the provision of assistance to elderly people - a need identified on the island of Santa Maria - that will also bring more job opportunities.

Violante Medeiros is another successful example. Holding a postdoctoral scholarship since 2010, she applied for the Regional Science and Technology Fund and saw her project approved by the European Social Fund, through Pro-Emprego.

Her postdoctoral work, titled as "Effect of Propagation Methods, Temperature, Light and Substrates used in the Quality of Azores Pineapple, will benefit local economy, particularly pineapple production.

Marcelino Kongo holds a degree in Biology and a PhD in Biotechnology and Food Engineering. Given the difficulty in getting a job, he joined the Seporqual-Inovação project, financially supported by the European Social Fund, with a postdoctoral scholarship granted by the Regional Science and Technology Fund and Pro-Emprego. He now focuses his activity on the improvement of quality and innovation in micro and small production companies in the area of traditional foods.

Reativar programme is targeted at people aged 18 and over without the appropriate qualifications to integrate or progress in the labour market. In order to enhance the Azorean working population, this initiative intends to improve qualifications and professional certification.

The projects submitted by Violante Medeiros and Marcelino Kongo (supported by ESF) are part of the Inova Projects (supported ERDF), managed by the Institute of Technological Innovation of the Azores.