The Government of the Azores has awarded financial support, in the amount 271,215.22 Euros, to the Development Plans for 2011 from 22 regional youth associations.

The financial contribution granted by the Azorean Government, through the Regional Directorate for Youth under the Programme to Support Youth Associations (PIAJ), is intended to support the development of the activities promoted by youth associations and entities registered at the Azorean Register of Youth Associations.

The global assessment of each application is the result of the analysis of projects and the performance of the association. Of the 199 projects submitted by 22 youth associations, 173 were approved and supported by the Regional Directorate for Youth in accordance with the criteria provided in Article 12 of Ordinance no.99/2010 of October 22.

The quality of the project, the innovation, the promotion of citizenship, the concern with the social integration of youngsters, the diversity of goals, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the good environmental practices, the capacity to obtain other sources of funding, the completion of previous projects, the location, the number of youngsters covered, as well as the participation of youngsters in the drafting, planning, implementation and assessment of the project were the criteria taken into account in the approval of the projects submitted.

Hence, the promotion of youth associations still remains one of the Regional Government’s concerns, which considers them as a true school of citizenship where youngsters may actively participate in the decision-making process and contribute to the change and improvement of their society.