euskalkultura.eus

Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The Eusko Brasildar Etxea Basque club of Sao Paulo has added a new center in order to teach Basque to the list of existing ones in the city.  In this way,  the Palacio Antxieta where the Municipal Chamber of Sao Paulo is found has been added to the Basque club, to the center Cora Coralina and to the Spanish House.  Sixty new students, along with nearly twenty civil servants from this government agency, take Basque classes at this downtown location.  

The Palacio Anchieta was built in 1969 and was named for Jose de Anchieta, a missionary, descendant of Basques and founder of the city.  The center houses the prestigious Restaurante Escola, a project that saves destitute youth and teaches them how to cook for seven months.  At the end of the course, they are then channeled into jobs in the sector, of which there is currently a large demand due to increased tourism in Brazil. Students who want to can also take Basque classes now according to Oskar Goitia, Basque club president.

[Students at the Restaurante Escola, working during a visit by the Basque club board of directors and HABE technician Kinku Zinkuengi (photo EuskoBrasildarEtxea)]

Visit by HABE

On February 3, the Basque club was visited by HABE technician, Kinku Zinkunegi, who they informed of all of their activities in relation to teaching Euskera.  In addition to those already mentioned, the Basque club will launch a group of txikis this year and another mintzalaguna for conversation practice, with the help of various Basques who have recently arrived to the area and who speak Basque fluently.  This class “signifies a huge qualitative leap in the ‘euskaldunization’ of our members and friends,” said Goitia excitedly.

The Basque club was also very satisfied with the participation of two of its members (Thiago Barros Pereira and Madalena de Ataide) in the recently concluded Barnetegi in San Nicolas, Argentina, where future Basque club, Euskera teachers are trained