UEMA, the Commonwealth of Basque Municipalities, presented to the media last month a campaign under the motto Egin nirekin euskaraz. Families have emerged that do not originate in the Basque Country, along with representatives of UEMA. They say that we Euskaldunes often approach these children in Spanish and it hurts them, because many know Euskera. The president of UEMA appeared alongside the school teachers of the two Basque peoples.

I believe that the campaign is very appropriate and necessary, because I have often realized that these behaviors are very alive among the Basques, both in the Basque people and, moreover, in the most Castilian speakers, who are denied the possibility of expressing themselves in Basque. But the campaign seemed even more interesting to me, because it's not just about relationships with children, it's about adults to go, and in our relationships with adults, it's about Spanish. Children, despite the problems (and the difficulties that schools have and the lack of resources to use them) learn in Basque, especially in the Basque villages, and it is a pleasure to hear the lid of the cap in Basque. Another thing is what happens to adults.

Immigrants who have come to the Basque Country at an early or adult age and have learned Basque are minimal. In the article entitled “The Dreamy Path of Migrants to Learn Euskera”, the media “The Dreamy Path to Learn Euskera” has provided some data from a survey conducted by the Begirune Foundation in 2023. Among them, 84% of the immigrants surveyed say they do not know anything or anything in Basque, 10% say they know only the basic level and 5% say they know Basque well or quite well. The majority opinion is that you do not need Euskera to live in the Basque Country, 65% say that you never use Euskera in their surroundings.

These people have come to work for vital needs and work in our homes, bars, hospitals and other workplaces. The Hordago Jump has received testimonies from four of these people and four say they have been given very few opportunities to learn Basque. And they say that, in addition to economic aid, which is not yet guaranteed, the working day should be reduced and Euskera's learning made possible during those hours.

At this juncture in which a more ambitious language policy and a new socio-political agreement are proposed, one of the measures to be implemented must be urgent, to give priority and facilities so that the immigrants who come to us constantly are not Castilian, but Euskera, including the reduction of working hours and the possibility of learning Euskera within working hours.

Employers, whether they are private individuals (in our homes we have mainly caregivers who do not know Euskera with older people who have always spoken in Euskera) or whether they are private administrations or companies, we have to put in means and money for hired workers to learn Euskera.

Responsibility has to be shared: the Basques have to learn how to keep the Basque, OK, and we have work, but the contribution of resources to learn the Basque with dignity corresponds to the employers and the administration. The third leg consists of the migrants themselves. I would be grateful if you would ask the Basques more often not to change their language in front of them, because they would help us a great deal.