Under the Statutory visit to the island of São Jorge, the Regional Secretariat for Labour and Social Solidarity signed on Monday a cooperation agreement with the Santa Catarina Institute to subsidise the renewal works of the Home for Children and Youth up to a maximum of 200 thousand Euros.

These interventions are intended to install a day and night centre in the village of Urzelina on São Jorge and they should be completed by next year.

According to Ana Paula Marques, with this initiative the Government of the Azores fulfils the commitment made last year.

The investment in the creation of day and night centres is part of the social policy pursued by the Regional Government in order to reconvert some social infrastructure into day and night centres, such as the case of the Flamengos day centre on Faial, the Salga and Ponta Delgada night centres on São Miguel, and the Santa Bárbara day centre in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, which is nearly completed.

On the occasion, the Regional Secretary also pointed out the various governmental investments in the area of Social Security on São Jorge with the purpose of “improving the quality of life São Jorge islander" adding that the Calheta Home is about to be completed, thus concluding the coverage of homes in the Azores.

At the event, Ana Paula Marques also took the opportunity to highlight Government’s annual investments through cooperation agreements with Private Social Solidarity Institutions from São Jorge, corresponding to an investment over than 2.1 million Euros in the areas of disability, children and elderly care.