Vocabulary

Video

Transcript

Spain has one of the EU’s lowest fertility rates — and its rural areas are experiencing a rapid population decline, leaving behind towns with aging residents and dwindling revenues.

Joaquim Espelt, Mayor of Vilada: “The population loss of 100 people in 20 years in a town like ours is 20%. And this entails the loss of many services. The loss of medical services, the school has been consolidated, but it has also been in danger of closing.”

Marilyn Moradel from Honduras, and her three daughters have been welcomed with open arms in this quaint town in the mountains of Catalonia. As the remaining residents see it, their arrival means revitalization of their community.

Marilyn Moradel, Honduran Immigrant: “The most that I like is that people talk to you without knowing you. They say, ‘Oh hi, how are you?’ and then they start asking you about your day or your family, and they try to make you feel close, and it makes you feel good,” Marilyn shared.

Catalonia has initiated a pilot program to encourage people to settle in small towns such as Vilada. The council has recruited Marilyn, hoping she and her three daughters will want to stay and live in this mountainous town.

Approximately 30 towns in Catalonia are participating in the program, with immigrants from countries including Ukraine, Syria, Colombia, Afghanistan, and Venezuela.

Oriol Lopez, Association of Micropolutions of Catalonia: “In the end, nationality is all the same to us. It’s about offering an opportunity so that any family from any origin and any economic condition sees this rural environment as an option for living.”

Marilyn places a high value on personal safety, and that figured largely into her decision to come to the small town. Previously, she lived in El Raval, a multicultural neighborhood in Barcelona, where she perceived a level of risk, especially for teenagers.

Marilyn Moradel, Honduran Immigrant: “That’s one of the things that I really love about Vilada: I can let my children go out, and I’m not scared if they’re out maybe at eight or nine.

There’s no time limit for me to tell them to come back inside because they can actually go outside, and I know who they’re with and who’s around.”

People often choose to move from urban to rural areas due to factors such as safety and options for better housing. For residents of Vilada, who hope to keep their town alive, it’s a win-win solution.

For Alfonso Biato in Vilada, Spain, Jonathan Speer, VOA News.

Questions

Farm. Spaniards have lots of Children. Is this correct or incorrect?

Village. Is the population of rural towns in Spain increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same?

Town. What does this mean for schools, clinics, stores and other businesses?

Small City. Local villages are xenophobic. Is this right or wrong?

City, Urban Area. Is Marilyn Moradel Spanish? Did she buy property in Vilada?

City Center, Plaza, Square. Are the newcomers in Catalonian towns and villages urban residents from Barcelona?

Financial District. Is the town of Vilada very seedy and dangerous? Is it safe to be out a night?

Industrial Zone. “For residents of Vilada, who hope to keep their town alive, it’s a win-win solution.” What does this mean?
 
 
 

Neighborhood, Community. Do you and your friends live on a farm, in a village, town, small city, city or large metropolis?

Suburbs, Outskirts. What has been the demographic trend in your region or nation? What can you say about villages and towns in your region? Are the getting bigger, smaller, or remaining the same size? What about cities?

Quarter, District. What is causing this demographic shift?

Metropolitan Area. What would you and your friends like to do?

Satellite City. What might happen in the future?

Megalopolis. What could or should people, governments and businesses do?