euskalkultura.eus

Mendoza, Argentina.  The main goal of the Euskara Munduan program is to let more and more people know about the Basque language.  The Basque club in Mendoza has made this their goal as well and has started a new course with an enrollment of about 30 students.

“We created four groups.  The first one, which had 30 students at its first meeting, takes place on Saturdays at 17:30.  Taking the number of participants into consideration, we are considering splitting the group.  There is a second level taught by Cecilia Belaunsaran, and a third taught by Lautaro Pincheira.  Both classes take place on Tuesdays at 17:30.  Finally, advanced students also gather on Saturdays in the afternoon with Lautaro,” according to first year teacher, Alicia Aguirre.

[The 2013 courses began on March 16 at the Basque club in Mendoza, thanks to teachers Cecilia Belaunsaran, Lautaro Pincheira and Alicia Aguirre (photosEE)]

“Looking towards the future, the challenge will be having a group of children who could be taught dances and games along with Euskera.  We are inviting the entire community for that to happen,” said sources from Denak Bat.

Book presentation, The Last Shepherds in the Basque Pyrenees

On February 8, members of the club hosted professor and writer Philippe Etchegoyhen from Zuberoa.  As part of his trip to the country Etchegoyhen gave a talk to share details of his publication The Last Shepherds in the Basque Pyrenees.

“Philippe Etchegoyhen is a friend of the house, and so during his stay in this city he communicated with us to visit us to present his work.  He is additionally a fervent diffuser of the Basque culture in the world, in particular in Iparralde.  It was a huge pleasure to have him,” indicated Denak Bat, recalling the Etchegoyhen, from Idauze, has traveled schools all over the world as a teacher.  Nevertheless, and having been far, “he never forgets his rooths.” After the talk, those present shared a dinner as they do every Friday.

Regarding other activities the Basque club let us know that they will celebrate their traditional events on the Basque calendar.  It should be noted that among these they will collaborate with a young Basque.  “In January we hosted Iñigo Landa, a youth from Donostia that came to Mendoza with a grant from the Basque Government.  For six months he will work as an intern in Biolan, a company that wants to establish itself in Mendoza, and take classes and participate in Basque club events,” Denak Bat told us.