AZORES | Regional Government ensures occupation of about 2,500 young people during summer holidays
This year, the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, promoted the placement of about 2,500 young people in holiday occupation programmes, including 2,150 in Youth Free Time Occupation projects (OTL-J), in addition to the 327 vacancies created in the “Holiday Camp” programme.
For the OTL-J projects, which take place in July and August, 878 projects have been approved from about a hundred organisations. The placement rate for young people enrolled this year has risen to 93%, an increase compared to 2023, when the rate stood at 86.5%.
The Regional Government’s commitment to training and supporting organisations to create occupation projects that better suit the interests of young people aged between 15 and 23 has contributed to this increase in the placement rate.
Regarding the “Holiday Camp” programme, a financial support measure for holiday camps, the number of entities promoting projects increased to six ( there were four entities in 2023). They presented 15 projects (3 more than in 2023) on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, ensuring 327 places, 50 more than last year.
The overall investment in the Free Time Occupation and “Holiday Camp” programmes exceeded 470 thousand Euros this year.
OTL-J is organised into four sub-programmes: “Environment and Tourism,” “Holiday Occupation,” “Active Youth” and “Young Students.” This programme aims to provide young people with an innovative way of occupying their free time, contributing to their non-formal education by acquiring new knowledge and values on responsible citizenship.
As part of the “Holiday Camp” programme, designed to encourage young people to take part in activities promoting healthy lifestyle habits, the Regional Directorate for Youth is also allocating financial support for holiday camps lasting up to 15 days, during the Easter and summer periods, for young people aged between 11 and 18.
GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU
