Minister Artolazabal delivers the documentation to 82 young people who will carry out cooperation tasks in Africa and America in the summer

• 79.50% of women (65) and 20.50% of men (17)
• They collect in Lakua tickets, references and documentation for their summer stays in 12 states
• 31 Social Project located in Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Rwanda and Uganda.
• Initiative of the Basque Government and Non-Governmental Organizations for Development
• “Wherever you are, the youth, children and population of that environment will take note of how you act, what you do and what human character you show; You will learn a lot from these good people.”

Vitoria-Gasteiz, 2022 07 05

The Minister of Equality, Justice and Social Policies of the Basque Government, Mrs. Beatriz Artolazabal, and fourteen Non-Governmental Organizations for Development-NGDOs, have delivered this afternoon, to 82 young people who will carry out, in summer, cooperation tasks in thirty-one social projects that developed in 12 states of Africa and America.

"Now, I´m probably with the most supportive and generous youth of the Basque Country, in addition, almost 80% of this group is made up of women" Mrs. Artolazabal told the group of young people.

The Regional Minister told the Youth group “You are going to dedicate precious and valuable time to the communities of the 34 projects in which you participate in total. You are going to take the good name of the Basque Country very far and its prominent position as a European country committed to solidarity and to people”

“Wherever you are, the youth, children and population of that environment will notice you and take good note of how you act, what you do and what human character you show. Wherever you are, you will learn a lot and good from those good people who, surely, surpass us in many human facets with their simplicity and their practical sense of life" Artolazabal stressed.

The group of young people selected, after various meetings and interviews held with the responsible NGDOs, in Barria, Araba. From now on, for two months, they will participate with the native populations of their destinations in educational tasks, construction of new hydraulic and road infrastructures.

Flights

Starting tomorrow, in various groups they will begin their journeys aboard scheduled flights from the Bilbao airport. Selected from 409 applicants, of the 83 young people (79.50% women (66) and 20.50% men (17), 25 of them come from Gipuzkoa 25 (2 men and 23 women); from Bizkaia: 72 (12 men and 60 women) and Araba-Álava 22 (7 men and 15 women).

Their destinations are located in 31 Social Project located in Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Gabon,  Guinea Conakry, Rwanda and Uganda. "The chosen profiles are of all kinds: education, teaching, sports specialists, health, agronomy, environmental sciences, music, social work, psychology, English and science teachers, to name a few" details Agurtzane Llano.

Several months ago, the coordinating NGDOs explained to the group of young co-operators the tasks they will carry out in the destination countries, commenting on various singularities and questions about development cooperation, health advice for international travel or gender and development, among others.

Group dynamics have also carried out to find out the expectations of the selected people and help them adapt. “We have carried out various works in groups and the possible concern of each young person has been analysed and responded to when learning about her fate so that they could comment on it to their families who will have them away that time. It goes without saying that, in addition to travel insurance, they have direct support from their NGDOs” indicate Agurtzane Llano and Paul Ortega.

The NGOs that participate are: Egoaizia Association for Development Cooperation, SERSO San Viator-Euskal Herria, “Juan Ciudad” NGO, Ayuda en Acción Foundation, Salesian Missions, Taupadak Elkartea Association, Medicus Mundi Bizkaia Elkartea Association, Edex - Community Resource Center , Haurralde Fundazioa, World Rural Forum Development Association, Vedruna-Solive Solidarity Association, “Manuel Iradier” Africanist Association, Icli Engineering for Cooperation and Saluganda Elkartea.