The Santa Engracia de Azuelo (Navarra) association has been giving life to the people in Auzolan for almost half a century. The population is 41 inhabitants and the association has 202 members. Its members report that the mayor of Azuelo wants to evict the municipal premises they have used since 1975. Signatures are being collected to be able to stay on the premises.

The members of the association highlight their “great work” to promote local culture, being a “very active” association. In the association they do everything, as I am doing cultural and social activities or leisure and environment. In addition, without municipal funding, some municipal buildings have been rehabilitated, including the old school. It has built a house of culture, and among other things has created a library and a library.

On October 29, 1975, the City donated the old school to the association “in very poor condition” in order to use it until its dissolution. Since then many things have been done to condition the premises, put the heating, the bar, change the floor, make the kitchen, etc. The members of the association want to continue with the convention, but the City Hall tells them that they can use an extra year and that they have to pay EUR 4,200.

They also denounce that in the last year and a half the city council has spent 200,000 euros to make a house of culture. In it there is a bar and according to the members of the association, the city council gives a bar, a house and a manioc to the bar provider for free. It also provides EUR 400 per month to the supplier. “It only opens two days a week and does not have to pay anything, we open every day and we have to pay 4,200 euros,” the association said.

He added that Azuelo has been an “example” to other peoples: “We are a strong group that, despite suffering a depopulation, works to stay alive.” They're based on neighborhood work.