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Organized by the Chascomus Zingirako Euskaldunak Basque Club, Udaleku, or Basque Summer camp had 44 children participating this year from Basque clubs in Maipu, Mar del Plata, Cañuelas, Bahia Blanca, Rosario and Posadas, plus children from the hosting club.  The organizers were very satisfied with how it went and have already begun planning Udaleku 2018.

Chascomus, Argentina.   Udaleku 2017 took place January 3-7, and gathered representatives from Anaitasuna in Maipu; Denak Bat in Mar del Plata; Denak Bat in Cañuelas; Union Vasca in Bahia Blanca; Zazpirak Bat in Rosario; and Euskal Jatorri in Posadas, along with children from the local hosting group totaled almost 50 in all.

Activities were carried out as in previous editions like pelota, dance, music, gastronomy, Euskera and mythology.  This year, a game was also added that allowed the kids to become part of a soccer team from the Basque Country – Osasuna, Alaves, Athletic and Real Sociedad (sorry, Eibar was not included this time), as well as competing with t-shirts that were also made for each team.

In regards to the coordination of the activities, the organization stresses the work done by the local aides, and above all the collaboration of young Basques Ondiz Furundarena who is studying in Argentina, and joined Zingirako Euskaldunak in order to help with camp, along with Ioar Oteiza, who was sent by the Delegation of Euskadi in Buenos Aires.  In both cases, the organizers stressed the links that were established between these youth and the Basque aides, their involvement in the activity and the “good vibes” that they brought to the camp.

On behalf of the Basque club, Paula Berasain told EuskalKultura.com that they evaluated Udaleku 2017 as “simply brilliant” and that is surpassed their expectations.  “The children were very happy.  Very tired, because they participated in all of the activities, but happy.  For many, it was their first Udaleku and everything caught their attention, to the point that they told us it was a good idea to not let them have their cell phones in hand.  That was a real achievement!,” explained Berasain with a big smile.

Looking forward, the Zingirako Euskaldunak wants to reiterate the call and invite Argentine Basque clubs to start planning their participation at next year's camp from right now.  “For example, the group from Union Vasca decided ahead of time to participate in Udaleku 2017.  This allowed them to create items to raise money for a concrete objective and a common goal that brought them closer together as a group.  We think that it is a good idea for other clubs to do the same, so that next year we have as good as a response as we did this year,” she said.

To conclude Udaleku 2017, the organizers and the participants did a Lip-sync. 

The Lip-sync and more camp photos are available on their Facebook page: Udaleku Chascomús.