Johana Ruiz-Olabuenaga, who has led the Athletic Social Area since December, discusses the Garathuz project, spearheaded by the Lezama management. While named four years ago, the project builds on a long-standing club philosophy of prioritizing homegrown players. This commitment entails significant responsibility towards the community, driving a comprehensive training approach expected to enhance sporting performance.
The Lezama management, under Eneko Bóveda, strongly supports the guidance and formative development of young players. The Fundación Athletic serves as a crucial ally in Garathuz, contributing projects that address a wide range of sensitivities.
There is a firm commitment for each of the fifteen youth teams to undertake one Garathuz activity per month, focused on predefined objectives. The 2023-24 season saw 86 activities, followed by 92 in 2024-25, and 103 in 2025-26. The Player Care and Psychology team at Lezama sets age-specific personal goals for these activities, ensuring a continuously evolving program.
The ultimate goal is for these complementary trainings to aid players in maturing as individuals. This ensures that should they reach the first team, they possess greater sensitivity towards their surroundings and contemporary society. Furthermore, if they do not make the leap to the first team, the aim is to prevent them from becoming 'broken toys' and to facilitate their reintegration into society without losing their connection to it. Player families increasingly value these Garathuz activities.
The activities are highly diverse, consistently pursuing objectives such as self-awareness, understanding one's environment, diversity, inclusion, and dual career paths. Topics like social media, communication, mental health, nutrition, and eating disorders are also addressed.
At Athletic, the fight against homophobia is an ongoing effort. The club aims for all its youth players to have broad perspectives and open minds regarding the diverse realities within their environment. The talk by Alejandro and Álvaro against LGTBIfobia received a very positive evaluation.
According to Ruiz-Olabuenaga, few clubs have comparable projects. She emphasizes that Garathuz is a firm project deeply rooted in Lezama.
