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Diario Euskadi

Parketarrak Initiative Returns to Pasaia's Parks and Squares This Spring

This Basque language play program will hold sessions from May 7 to June 4 in the municipality's four districts.

Children and parents playing in Basque in a park in Pasaia.
IA

Children and parents playing in Basque in a park in Pasaia.

The Parketarrak program is returning to Pasaia's parks and squares this spring, offering spaces for playing in Basque from May 7 to June 4 across the municipality's four districts.

This initiative, focused on playing in Basque, will run for four consecutive weeks, from Monday to Thursday, in the afternoons. The initial sessions will be held within the framework of the Eusfera initiative, aiming to engage parents and promote the Basque language in the lives of children aged 0 to 12.
Parketarrak was first launched in Pasaia in the spring of 2025, followed by a second round in autumn. The autumn sessions saw the participation of 71 parents and 190 minors, which was evaluated «very positively». Consequently, Pasaia's Basque Language Advisory Council, Bokale, has agreed to continue the initiative.
The project's main objective is to influence the family transmission of the Basque language, providing spaces to encourage children and their parents or guardians to play together. Families will gather in parks and squares across the four districts to play in Basque, specifically targeting children between 3 and 5 years old and their parents. Several facilitators will be in charge of directing the activity. However, children must be accompanied by their guardians, as they remain their primary reference figures.
The sessions will be free and last for one hour. There will be no participant limit, and no prior registration is required. Educators will invite children aged 3 to 5 years old and those accompanying them to participate. Educators will adapt the sessions to the characteristics of the participants. Therefore, while the sessions will be in Basque, understanding the language is not a prerequisite, as facilitators will ensure that everyone comprehends the game rules. Additionally, they will select the most appropriate games based on the group's characteristics.
In a child's early months and years, it is crucial to foster a Basque-speaking home environment and incorporate playful aspects. As they grow, they begin to form social networks, and at that stage, having the opportunity to enjoy themselves in Basque with friends is also fundamental for strengthening colloquial language and building communication habits in Basque. The Parketarrak program offers resources for this to minors and their families.

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