From Garabide, we have been collaborating with the Guaraní people of Bolivia for years. Fifteen years ago, the first Guaraní group came to the Basque Country for training; since then, they have attended the Aditu courses every year. In addition, in their territory, in southeastern Bolivia, in the autonomous indigenous territory of Charagua Iyambae, we have accompanied them in the process they are developing to defend their own language, culture, and identity. In 2020 and 2021, they worked on the development of a Strategic Language Plan for their territory, with Garabide participating as an advisory organization. In recent years, this collaboration has deepened, and we are now promoting, together with them, the process to turn that Strategic Plan into law. To this end, they have independently implemented several measures from the Strategic Plan, while also carrying out awareness-raising work with territorial authorities. As part of this work, we had planned a visit to the Basque Country to provide basic training in sociolinguistics and to share the experience of the Euskara.

We have attempted to organize this visit on two occasions: once last summer and once more recently. In order to carry out the visit, the authorities must apply for a visa, which must be approved by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. On both occasions, it has been denied. Both the Guaraní representatives and Garabide have made it clear that this visit is for training purposes, and the commitment of the invited authorities to the development of their territory and community clearly shows that their intention is by no means to leave Bolivia.

Thus, from Garabide, we wish to denounce the arbitrariness behind these visa denials and the structural injustice suffered by our partners from the Global South. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to continue collaborating with the Guaraní people. We believe that these exchanges promote the integral development of their territory and also provide us with an opportunity to reflect on tools to promote the revitalization of the Euskara.