- In the middle and south Navarre, many children learn Basque but have little chance of using it. The Basque Buttocks Jolasteka were born with the objective of enjoying free time in Basque in these towns. During this course, the project will cover a minimum of 16 villages, 22 parks and 211 children aged 3 to 12 years, and demand is growing.
The project is promoted by the Hearing, born of the Errigora project: “From people to people, what they often tell us is that they now have more ease to learn Euskera, but they often do not have the opportunity to use it, and that is what the initiative was born,” said ARGIA member of the Haizea Lizarbe Hearing. They do not disseminate mortgages à la carte, the involvement of citizenship is fundamental: “We explain the intention to them and ask them to join the families and that they themselves get a room for the library, for example by talking to the city hall; we put the monitor and make a way to make it not expensive, because we help pay with the money we receive from the Queen.” In short, it is a question of each people being as autonomous as possible, “so that, even if it goes away, the project will continue”.
At this beginning of the course, 211 children have already been appointed (160 families), have just been incorporated into the Berbinzana project (thus there will be more boys and girls in total) and another six are in doubt. Along with Berbinzana, Larraga is the municipality that this year has joined the initiative for the first time. The other localities are: Abárzuza, Allo, Andosilla, Ancín, Peralta, Garinoain, Castejón, Mendigorría, Oteiza, Puiu, Sartagudo, Sesma, Tafalla, Viana and Carcastillo.
Zonal meetings are held so that children from neighboring towns get to know each other and relate in Basque; "if they have Basque as a linguistic habit, they will keep it in the future"
Lizarbe highlights the importance of children being able to spend their free time in Basque. In addition, zonal meetings are held so that children from neighboring towns get to know each other and relate in Euskera; “if they have Euskera as their usual language, when in the future they join in free time they will keep it among them”.
Not only the children of model D, but also those of model A are welcome in the Ludoteca so that they can train in Euskera and participate in activities in Euskera, although they do not dominate speaking, because they understand in Euskera.
The novelty of this year is that while the children are playing, AEK will offer an Basque course for parents who want it. It should not be forgotten that parents are often not Basque, but that they have decided to educate their children in Basque.
It is no small thing to give place and future to the Basque country in localities where the presence of the Basque country is weaker. In short, there are citizens who not only do not know Euskera, but also have messages against Euskera. “We try to face it with a smile: we help the people to move through the Basque country in positive,” rounded Haizea Lizarbe.