Maialen Gurrutxaga, the mayor of Elgoibar, and Amaia Sastre, president of Elgoibarko Izarra Euskaltzaleon Topagunea, signed the cooperation agreement between the two entities this week. They were joined by Aitor Iriondo, the councilor responsible for the Euskera, Youth, and Education departments, and Amaia Lasagabaster, the association's manager.
Mayor Gurrutxaga announced that the 204,000 euro grant will be used to fund initiatives promoting the use of Basque and an educational leisure program for children in Elgoibar throughout 2026. As in previous years, the funding will be channeled through two municipal departments: the Euskera department will provide 130,000 euros, and the Youth and Education department will contribute 74,000 euros.
As part of this year's agreement, the City Council will subsidize several initiatives. Specifically, the association will receive 67,500 euros for the Barrena communication project; 23,000 euros for the Berbazulo sessions and the Tertuliak initiative; 39,500 euros for promoting motivation and use of Basque; 40,000 euros for holiday programs; 18,700 euros for the Saretzen Familia program; 14,800 euros for street activities; and 500 euros for training.
“"The collaboration between the administration and popular initiative is essential if we want to complete the educational leisure offering for children and promote Basque language and culture in our town."
Following the signing of the agreement, the Basque language association expressed its gratitude to the City Council, emphasizing the crucial role of collaboration between the administration and grassroots initiatives in enriching the educational leisure offerings for children and promoting the Basque language and culture in the region.
