This year, Bergara will participate in the GANDIK project, which aims to digitize local commerce, develop digital skills among young people, and strengthen the presence of the Basque language online. After the successful pilot phase conducted in Portugalete and Beasain last year, this initiative will now extend to Laudio, Mungia, Pasaia, and Bergara.
In this edition, young people from Bergara will collaborate with ten local shops and bars. Students from the Miguel Altuna Vocational Training Center and the Mariaren Lagundia school, under the guidance of their teachers and with the support of PUNTUEUS and the Bergara City Council, will develop websites in Basque for these businesses. The participating establishments include: Bego eta Marije Ileapaindegia, Akort, Laino, Irish Pub Galway's, Izzar Estetika, Sirmiri, Izarra Ileapaindegia, Pinpilinpauxa, Maetabe, and Ninika.
The project is founded on intergenerational collaboration. This approach allows students to practice their digital skills while local shopkeepers gain a resource to enhance their businesses' digital presence in Basque, without requiring extensive technical knowledge or resources. Furthermore, thanks to PUNTUEUS, each website will receive a free .EUS domain and server for one year, and shopkeepers will receive training for independent management.
Another key feature of the GANDIK project is the promotion of Basque online, as all websites will be created in the language. The Bergara City Council emphasizes that this initiative fosters connections between local commerce and youth, with Basque at its core, thereby promoting digitalization, collaboration, intergenerational relationships, and the digital normalization of the Basque language.
