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The awards from the Letters from the Diaspora contest organized by the Euskaltzaleok and Laurak Bat Basque Clubs in Valencia both landed in America this year, a remarkable feat as submissions were required to be in Basque.  The winners were Delia Beatriz Etchegaray from Argentina in the Basque student category and to Andrea Bella in the Euskaldunes category.  Zorionak to them both!

Valencia, Spain.   The Valencia Basque clubs Euskaltzaleok and Laurak Bat, published the winners of their literary contest Letters from the Diaspora on January 30, as part of their Literature Gala.  The event took, place at the headquarters of the Navarrese Basque club Laurak Bat, followed by pintxos.  During the event the winning letters were read, as written in Euskera, and both translated for those who don’t speak Basque.

Garikoitz Knorr, expert on Basque topics served as the jury for the contest, and the organizers were very satisfied by the response this year, as they had many submissions from different parts of the Diaspora. In fact, the two winners in the student and Euskaldun categories went to America.

In the Student category the winner was Delia Beatriz Etchegaray from Rio Negro, Argentina who presented her letter “Eraztuna” (the ring).  In the Euskaldun category the winner was Andrea Bella from Montevideo, Uruguay.  Andrea learned Basque at her club, with HABE and FEVA’s Euskara Munduan program, and is currently a Basque language teacher there.  In addition, she also writes a blog to keep the Basque community abreast of activity there "Uruguaiko azken berriak", also in Basque.  Her letter was called “Ene Alaba Maitea” (my dear daughter).  The winners will receive a selection of books in the coming days.

Euskaltzaleok and Laurak Bat also took advantage of the gathering to invite everyone to celebrate Korrika 19, on March 28, for which they are preparing several activities, festivities and surprises.