Thirteen students from Rabo de Peixe, a coastal town on São Miguel Island in the Azores, concluded a week-long visit to the United States as part of the “Entre Mares e Metrópoles” (Between Seas and Metropolises) program.

The visit aimed to strengthen cultural ties between the Azores and the Azorean diaspora in Rhode Island, particularly in Providence and East Providence, extending to Fall River, which host a significant Portuguese-American community.

The program was a collaboration between the Escola Básica Integrada de Rabo de Peixe and the Azores-based Associação dos Emigrantes Açorianos (Association of Azorean Emigrants).

The initiative, seeking to foster lasting and meaningful relationships between Rabo de Peixe and the Azorean diaspora in the United States, aimed to promote mutual understanding and encouraged the sharing of cultural heritage.

As part of their visit, the students were engaged in various cultural and educational activities, including interactions with local schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions.

These experiences provided them with insights into the lives of Azorean descendants in the US and offered opportunities to share their traditions and perspectives.

The “Entre Mares e Metrópoles” program exemplifies efforts to bridge communities across the Atlantic, celebrating shared heritage and fostering connections between the Azores and its diaspora.

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PAJ/Staff

The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.