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At the age of 27, he has been to the Basque Country three times, but he was born and was raised in a city in Argentina, Necochea which is Basque to its name.  Marcial Agostini Zubillaga grew up linked to the Euzko Etxea in his hometown and participated for years in the youth program “Hator Hona.”  He is learning Basque and feels that it is important for youth in the clubs to get to know their peers in the Basque Country; that is what the “Hator Hona” program is for. 

Joseba Etxarri.  We found Marcial Agostini in La Plata at the University where he is studying Electronic Engineering.  We knew of him, after meeting him at Semanas Vascas as a dantzari, or an integral part of the Gazte Alai group from Necochea, or even we coincided once at a barnetegi in Zornotza where he improved his Basque knowledge.  Marcial was born into a Basque family, his maternal grandparents – Francisco Zubillaga and Barbari Zubillaga, from Errenterria and Hernani respectively – were references of that pillar generation of the Basque club in Necochea that celebrates its 70th birthday this year.  On his father’s side, our interviewee is Italian, even if his Italian influence is more of being and getting together, without formally integrating into the Italian community in Nechochea.  As a Basque he is a member and participates in the Basque club and community; that in Necochea where the were able to put gether 'Hator Hona', an innovator and transformer program “organized by and for youth,” through which a handful of youth form the Basque Country travels to Argentina every year to share, through workshops, with their Argentine peers, their experience and knowledge of the Basque culture and reality.

Did we get it right when we said that you were born and raised at the Euzko Etxea in Necochea?

-Completely.  I was born in Necochea and I moved several times. In fact, right now I live in La Plata because of my studies and I can attest that the Euzko Etxea has been always our reference that has never changed for me or my family, and for some generations of Basques in Necochea.  For me, it is home, and I hope that when I have a family it will be the same for my children.  I remember one time talking to a friend in the Basque Country in Elorrio she talked about her baserri that was more than 500 years old, something in Argentina that is impossible, when the city of Necochea is no more than 130 years old, but it must be awesome to have that sensation that links you to a place like that.  In my case it happens that the Basque club it is our baserri, a place that generations have passed through, where we meet with friends, family and where we share and celebrate.

The Basque club in Necochea is known for the “Hator Hona”.

-A program that this year it is in its 11^th edition.  It began in 2004 and it created a total revolution at the club, at least.  Imagine the change that took place for youth that had guarded an idyllic and romantic vision of the Basque Country to share three weeks every year with four, or six, or ten youth from there, that bring with them their testimony, share their knowledge about today's Basque Country, its language, history, music, dance and culture in general, while they are experiencing Argentina thanks to us.  It opens a window wide open.  Today we know the country better and its reality and when we travel to the Basque Country we have friends there that we consider family.

It was hard in the beginning…

-The beginning wasn’t easy and some thought that it was crazy to create an initiative where youth were chosen to come from the Basque Country, according to the workshops that we wanted to see take place here, so that they would come, paying their travel, and us taking care of room and board.  Nobody imagined the incentive and support that that was going to be for many Basques in Necochea.  Now there is a generation that grew up with Hator Hona.

It is clear that in three weeks you don’t completely learn a language, or dominate an instrument, but this experience provides you a basis from which you can build on, you realize if you like it or not, and  it helps you see that you can move forward.  There are many things that are done at the Euzko Etxea today that originated from “Hator Hona.”  We have had the good fortune of both, having spectacular people here who have come from Euskadi to share, and having our club deciding to support its youth in everything we needed. The activity is organized every year by youth for youth, even though people of all ages participate in the workshops.  The program has also given way to three trips – two organized as a dance group and one for the parents (“Hator Hona Gurasoak”) – to the Basque Country – when in 70 years no youth group had ever travelled from Necochea to the Basque Country, getting an extraordinary welcome there that we will forever warmly remember.

It’s strange that with this as a precedent that more clubs are implementing similar programs.

-It takes work, but it is relatively easy to organize, and there are many youth in Euskadi who are ready to come.  It also surprises me.  And I want people to know that we are ready to help any other club or youth group that might be interested.

You have visited the Basque Country three times.

-In 2008, and in 2013 with Hator Hona, and in 2010 with Gaztemundu and to participate in a barnetegi (Basque language internship in a boarding school), in Zornotza.  There are people who ask me why a barnetegi, why study Basque?  The truth is that the barnetegi advance me a lot.  Now I understand quite a bit, but I have trouble speaking; to be there in that environment and permanent contact with the language gave me a real boos in my learning.

Regarding Euskera, I realized that I need it.  Besides it is our language and I love it, and just for that reason it deserves to be learned,  I have realized that in my surroundings, if you don’t know Euskera, you are missing out on things.  It is strange, but in Argentina I have never been in a situation where my limited command of English wasn’t enough, or made me want to learn more.  But with Euskera,  here among Basques, and during my visits to the Basque Country, I do feel that I need it, that it is necessary so I don’t miss out on an important part of our culture, of the dynamics and of the contributions that are generated and that grow in our community. I want it part of me.