Olhar Poente’s project, “3EAZ_Empoderamento_Educação_Emprego_Azores,” has been selected as one of fourteen initiatives to receive support from Gulbenkian Empregar, a program of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

The project aims to help reduce the number of NEET youth—young people who are not in education, employment, or training—by promoting their integration into education, vocational training, and the labor market. It does so through a coordinated strategy focused on skills development, empowerment, and community engagement. Planned actions include capacity-building initiatives, mentoring, community involvement, and close collaboration with public institutions and employers to strengthen participants’ personal, social, and professional skills.

Running for 18 months, the 3EAZ project will support 150 young people aged 16 to 34 living on Terceira Island. Participants include youth with interrupted educational or professional paths, low incomes, precarious employment, limited qualifications, and those facing psychosocial risk, social exclusion, or migrant status.

The initiative brings together a network of public and private partners. According to Sandra Serpa, president of Olhar Poente, the project is grounded in “a serious commitment to the triad of public service, private enterprise, and the community,” with the goal of building a sustainable program that helps empower young people—many of whom currently lack a clear life plan.

Serpa adds that by creating real opportunities for social and professional integration, the project will reduce exposure to vulnerable environments and significantly increase the likelihood of successful transitions into education, training, or employment.

From Press Release

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.