The international community discovers rural life at the heart of the Basque Country
- A group of professionals and postgraduates from over fifteen different countries enjoy a rural experience at the Belaze farming hamlet in Elorrio.
On the 16th of November Bizkaia Talent organized a new sociocultural event in Elorrio (Bizkaia), within the framework of the integration initiatives promoted by its Relocation & Be Basque Dual Career Centre service. On this occasion, a group of thirty people, either highly qualified professionals or postgraduates from the Be Basque Ambassadors program, together with their families, enjoyed a unique experience at the Belaze farming hamlet where they were given a taste of day-to-day rural life in the Basque Country.
The activity kicked off with an immersive tour of the farming hamlet, the kitchen garden and the stables, where the participants learned about the history and evolution of the trade of the farmer, or baserritarra, an authentic symbol of Basque tradition. Furthermore, great emphasis was placed on the importance of sustainability and ecological methods of production, values which today’s baserritarras continue to foster. Adults and children alike were able to interact with the rural environment and get first-hand knowledge of the way in which fresh and sustainable products are produced.
The experience also included a tasting session of ecological goods produced on the farm. Following this, the group enjoyed a walk in the old quarter of Elorrio, ending the event with lunch at a local restaurant.
Amongst those participating in the event there were people from countries such as Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, USA, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, Dominican Republic and Russia, as well as Basque people who have returned from working abroad. These people are developing their professional careers at companies such as Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Tecnalia Foundation, BC3 – Basque Centre for Climate Change, Ikerbasque, ITP Aero, Novocargo Transitarios, Senstile, Syngoi Technologies, UPV/EHU and Deusto University, amongst others.
Through this type of initiative Bizkaia Talent reaffirms its commitment towards creating spaces for the social and cultural integration of the international community which has chosen to settle in the Basque Country. The next event coming up will be the highly anticipated Christmas party on the 13th of December, a traditional event to see out the year in a festive and welcoming environment.
