
The Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo was recently distinguished with nine “Municipal Excellence – Gold Recognition” awards from Observatório – Cidade Social. These awards recognize the municipality’s commitment to innovative and effective public policies in various areas, promoting community well-being and sustainable development.
In the area of Social Action, we highlight the “AMA Angra – Support for Parenthood” program, which provides free support to all families in the municipality since 2022, to support them from pregnancy to the postpartum period. This program offers various individual counselling sessions and workshops in the 19 parishes of the Angra do Heroísmo municipality. Also noteworthy is the “Turista na Tua Terra” (Tourist in Your Land) project, a program aimed at active ageing, giving the elderly the chance to awaken physical, emotional, mental, and social skills. This project provides users of the municipality’s social centers, day centers, and nursing homes a unique way to explore their island, discovering or rediscovering places, landscapes, people, and traditions, thus enhancing local heritage. These projects reflect the municipality’s commitment to strengthening families and promoting social cohesion.
In the Education sector, the “Health Literacy” projects were recognized, which aims to improve the population’s health knowledge through workshops and training in Angra do Heroísmo’s Social Centres, with the main aim of providing volunteers and the elderly with knowledge, skills and strategies for prevention and care in the event of an accident or sudden illness; the “Estuda +” program, a system of scholarships for higher education students, with criteria adapted to the socio-economic needs of students, which aims to facilitate access and permanence in post-secondary and higher education, contributing to the reduction of financial difficulties and increasing the level of qualification of Angra do Heroísmo residents; the “Support for Accompanied Study” program, a school support service aimed at primary and secondary school students, which seeks to acquire skills that promote the adoption of study methods conducive to autonomy in learning, as well as support for school tutoring to overcome difficulties; and the “StartUp Angra Training Plan”, which promotes various training courses in the areas of entrepreneurship and financial literacy for young people. These initiatives demonstrate the municipality’s commitment to promoting its residents’ education and personal development.
In the area of Sports, the “Haja Saúde Municipal – Pilates Clínico” program was distinguished for promoting clinical Pilates activities for the municipality’s senior citizens, encouraging sports practice and a healthy lifestyle. This recognition reinforces the municipality’s continued investment and commitment to providing its elderly with a full and active life, through actions that value their health and dignity.
The “Senior Theater Festival” was awarded in the Culture category, standing out as a cultural event that promotes the active participation of the senior population through theater. For three nights, seven plays written and performed by different groups of elderly people from the municipality’s Social Centers took to the stage of the Angrense Theatre.
Centers in the municipality. This initiative demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to social inclusion and active ageing.
In the area of Tourism, the “Cheese and Milk Route” was recognized for highlighting tradition and local dairy production, promoting gastronomic tourism, and valuing regional products. This project offers a unique opportunity for tourists to get to know and experience the activities of dairy farms while enjoying the stunning landscapes of Terceira and tasting local products, contributing to economic development and the preservation of cultural traditions.
“These recognitions reflect the ongoing efforts of the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo to implement effective and innovative public policies, promoting the quality of life of its residents and the sustainable development of the region. The municipality thanks the county’s institutions for the partnerships established with the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, and for their contribution to the success of these initiatives, recognizing that the awarding of these prizes is the result of a joint effort between the municipality, the institutions and the residents,” says Fátima Amorim, Angra do Heroísmo City Council councillor.
From Press Release
Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.

