Maela Koareg, 32, is a business owner in Quimper, in the region of Brittany.

Growing up, I attended a Diwan school . These are schools that are free and secular and follow national educational guidelines. The only difference with public schools is that all classes are taught in Breton . There are about forty such schools in the Brittany region.

Personally, I’m very grateful that my parents decided to put me in a Breton-speaking school. It helped me build my identity. Contrary to what some may think, being taught in Breton does not lead to separatist tendencies nor to extreme nationalism. The far right actually does very poorly at the polls in Brittany . Young people here are very open to the idea of a unified Europe. Personally, I identify first as Breton, then as European and French.

"We're just asking for politicians to give us the means to protect our language"

Breton is doing better than other regional languages, many of which are at risk of extinction. In the past ten years, there have been many new programs created at the regional level to promote Brittany’s culture and language, for example festivals that feature Breton music. Even major brands are using local culture in their advertisements! (See below.) Our activism is peaceful. We’re just asking for politicians to give us the means to protect our language.