Founded in December 2018 in the Basque Country, Association Gurekin was created in response to an increasingly pressing challenge: how can we support older people in living full, autonomous lives in places battling isolation and weakening links with their communities ?
Through shared, participatory homes, Gurekin promotes social inclusion and intergenerational connection, and helps empower older people as leaders, decision makers, and essential voices, with positive impacts for the entire community. Gurekin means ‘with us’ in Basque, reflecting the organization’s deep commitment to a participatory approach. The organization envisions communities where small towns invest meaningfully in their older residents, where seniors can age with dignity and autonomy within the heart of their towns, and where intergenerational bonds strengthen the entire social fabric.
Operating with a team of 25 volunteers and 4 professional staff, Gurekin is pioneering an innovative model helping communities re-imagine support for older adults, creating spaces where they co-design their futures and remain active, respected participants in community life.
Underlying all of Gurekin’s work is a commitment to participatory development. With a focus on rural communities and smaller towns, Gurekin works hand-in-hand with actors like town leadership, social housing developers, and healthcare providers. Through years of dialogue and open meetings, potential residents have the opportunity to reflect, learn about one another, and actively shape the future of their shared home with a group of like-minded individuals.
Today, Gurekin’s shared homes accommodate 8-10 people aged 65 or older living autonomously or semi-autonomously, each in a private apartment (46m²) complemented by common spaces for meals, activities, and gathering. Costs for residents are purposefully affordable, allowing seniors with budgets at all levels to participate. Professional staff and trained volunteers are present daily, supported by a governance structure that ensures safety while preserving residents’ autonomy and freedom of choice.
Gurekin currently leads three shared home initiatives in small communes in the Basque Country, with more to come:
Through these shared homes, older residents gain far more than affordable housing. They discover a sense of purpose, take on meaningful challenges, and build self-confidence within a collective united by shared goals. This sense of belonging extends beyond the walls of their homes, as residents become more deeply connected not only to each other but to their towns and communities, enriching the entire region.
With Friends of Fondation de France, U.S. donors can support Association Gurekin in pioneering new models for supporting seniors in the Basque region of France through tax-deductible donations. Every gift helps sustain the participatory work that supports community members in aging with dignity, autonomy, and connection in the places they call home.
Donations will contribute to support for the two latest projects in Urcuit and St Pierre d’Irube, promoting social connections, intergenerational solidarity, affordable and dignified housing, seniors’ empowerment, freedom of choice, safety, and participatory governance. The funding will support the acquisition and installation of kitchen infrastructure and the construction of communal spaces.
Photo © Gurekin / Christelle Laney – Art et Lumière
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