The Hazi Project for Academic Support and Child Care is a new initiative by Itaka-Escolapios that offers a space for support and guidance to children from families participating in the organization’s various social projects.

Specifically, it provides services in two areas:

· Academic support: Ongoing support is provided Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., during which children can do their homework, receive help with school subjects as needed, read, practice Spanish and/or Basque, and participate in various recreational and leisure activities alongside other children. Academic support is a vital resource for families who struggle to assist their children with schoolwork due to language barriers or other circumstances; it is also a right of children, fostering the development of their abilities under conditions of greater equality of opportunity.

· Childcare: A space for care and support is provided to address families’ work-life balance needs, especially those with limited social or family networks, low incomes, or households headed exclusively by women. This resource enables parents to continue their educational pursuits and efforts to improve their employability, thereby promoting their autonomy and opportunities for social and labor market inclusion, while ensuring that their children remain in a safe, caring environment suited to their needs during this time. This childcare service is also offered on an ongoing basis, Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In addition to this care provided during set hours, the project has a network of people available to support families’ work-life balance needs at other times, caring for their children so that parents can attend to specific, one-time, or recurring situations (such as appointments it is advisable to attend without their children, therapy sessions, taking an exam, or attending classes on days or during periods when their children do not have school, etc.). The Itaka-Escolapios Foundation has suitable physical spaces for both academic support activities and child care. This 2026–2027 school year began with 18 children: 8 in need of academic support and 10 requiring basic care and supervision. There is also a network of volunteers with diverse backgrounds, totaling 30 people throughout the week during which the project is offered.