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Zizurkil's Small Schools Festival: Community, Tradition, and Future

The event organized by the Mendigain school community focuses on new generations and the town's vitality.

Generic image: Group of children and adults participating in the Small Schools Festival in a rural Basque Country landscape.
IA

Generic image: Group of children and adults participating in the Small Schools Festival in a rural Basque Country landscape.

Mendigain school in Zizurkil is hosting the Small Schools Festival to celebrate community strength, tradition, and future challenges.

The Mendigain school in Zizurkil has organized the Small Schools Festival, emphasizing the strong bond between the town and the school. This event merges memories of the past with hopes for the future, highlighting community participation and the school's vitality.
Eñaut Solaguren, a teacher, stresses that the working methodology, which places students and families at the center, provides great motivation for educators. Despite the challenge of declining enrollment, they see more opportunities for adaptation through teamwork.
Mikel Garin, a former student, praises the school's closeness and its connection to the town, comparing it to experiences in large cities. Today, relationships among former students are maintained, and some are now parents at Mendigain.
In the festival's preparation process, students, parents, and the town council have actively participated. Haitz Urbistondo, a sixth-grade student, is excited and a bit nervous about the event, explaining that challenges have been sent to other small schools.
Arkaitz Zaldua, the Councilor for Education, expresses the council's gratitude for the organizers' work and assures that resources are being provided. He considers the school essential for the town center (Herrigune), as it fosters a strong sense of community.
Alaitz Ormazabal, from the parents' association, describes the intensity of the work organized in committees. They estimate needing around 200 volunteers and inform that access to the town center by car will be restricted, with shuttle buses organized.
Maxux Labaka, one of the organizers of the 1998 festival, recalls the evolution of the first festival organized by parents. At that time, the survival of small schools was the main goal, and the slogan 'Living small towns and neighborhoods' was created.
Nahia Alkorta details the program's outline, which aims to foster networking and participation. There will be workshops, performances, and games, and the day will conclude with Porrotx.
Izarro Lizarraga describes the logo selection process, involving student participation. The red kite was chosen due to a nature reserve in Zizurkil, symbolizing freedom and return.
Unai Mendizabal explains the creation process of the song's lyrics for the festival, designed to be catchy and suitable for children to sing. The slogan 'The future is created now' looks towards the future.

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