The municipality of Lagos was the place chosen to host the gathering “Conversation with young people who inspire”, as part of the International Youth Day commemorations, promoted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ).
The opening session was attended by Custódio Moreno, regional director of IPDJ do Algarve, Fátima Pinho, representing the National Youth Council, Catarina Ramos, president of the Algarve Youth Associations, Sara Coelho, councilor of the Lagos City Council with the Youth Ministry, and also the vice-president of the IPDJ, Sónia Paixão.
Sara Coelho did not want to fail to emphasize the importance of the day, since “young people must be the engine and agents of change in our society”. The councilor considers it increasingly important to mobilize young people and encourage their participation.
Sónia Paixão, on the other hand, reinforced the idea that “young people are the ones who inspire the future, so they have to be heard”.
The second part of the get-together was to give a voice to the young people present, as well as their ideas for the future and projects. Diogo Rodrigues is the president of the association A Garra, the first youth association in the municipality of Lagos. This young Lacobrigense presented the association and ongoing projects, such as the creation of a youth discount card that includes the entire territory of Terras do Infante (Lagos, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo).
Joana Jesus was another young guest who inspired the session, as well as the thousands of young people who follow her every day on her Facebook page – Peanuts Lifestyle. This young Marketing graduate, who has traveled to 26 countries and is dedicated to creative savings, believes that “having good energy and knowing how to take advantage of opportunities is the most important thing”.
Before ending the session, and faced with the question “What inspires you?”, the young people showed that inspiration and new ideas can be born in any place or circumstance, from nature to people, the city where we were born and live or the trips we take.
This gathering was one of the many initiatives carried out throughout the day throughout the country, organized by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), the National Youth Council (CNJ) and the National Federation of Youth Associations (FNAJ) .
August 12 was declared International Youth Day in 1999, following a recommendation resulting from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, which took place in Portugal in 1998. Since then, this day has been celebrated worldwide, highlighting the potential transforming youth in society and in social, economic and environmental sustainability.
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