ESC: YOUTH INFORMATION AND SPORTS

The city of Hendaye is situated in the extreme south-west of France, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, within the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It is a town on the frontier with the Spanish Basque country; and one of the two crossing points between the Iberian Peninsula and France at the extreme south-west of the Pyrenean Mountains. As a renowned resort, it is attractive, popular and has a festive atmosphere, with one of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast, at the foot of the Pyrenean mountains. Hendaye is also a stopping place for pilgrims on the route of Santiago de Compostela by the northern route, but also a town of departure or arrival for those who cross the Pyrenean Mountains on foot or by bike via the GR10. Located 30 kilometers far from the towns of Bayonne and Biarritz (airport BIQ) and 20 kilometers from the town of San Sebastian (airport EAS), Paris can be reached from Hendaye by several high-speed trains daily. The Eusko “Topo” train links Hendaye and San Sebastian in 35 minutes, with departures every half hour. The Youth Information Office is situated in the town centre, 50 meters from the Town Hall. The town of Hendaye is a local authority of about 17 000 inhabitants overseeing the improvement of its territory and the quality of life of its inhabitants. To this effect, it brings to the population services and activities linked to its legal obligations, but also organises, coordinates or pilots local policies which are connected with improving the quality of every aspect of the everyday life of the inhabitants - educational, sporting, social and cultural. It is endowed with specific municipal services which have in every field formed strong partnerships with operational, public, private and associated institutions and organisations. Because of its close geographical situation in relation to the frontier with the Spanish Basque country, it has for many years undertaken cross-border activities in conjunction with the conurbation of the Southern Basque country, the Basque Eurocity of Bayonne-San Sebastian and forms with the neighbouring Spanish-Basque towns of Irun and Fontarabie the Bidasoa-Txingudi consortium. Hendaye is a frontier town which is a port and a tourist town but also a town welcoming international transit and of socio-medical co-operation. In fact the health sector is the largest employer in the town, with two large reception buildings and centres for the disabled. Hendaye has also pioneered a method of disabled access to the beach. The European Solidarity Corps programme has been included in the activities of the Youth Information Office (Youth and Digital Service) for many years now. Every year, two European volunteers are hosted for a one-year duration to participate in the youth activities. It assures a welcome to all young people providing them with information, free of charge, regarding all the topics related to youth. It is linked to the counseling, training and rehabilitation organisations and associations, families and businesses.The mission of the Youth and Digital Service is essentially to deliver information and documentation on education, training, professions, employment, housing, rights, health, leisure activities, language exchange, European and international mobility, and it gives a direct access to the Internet to the young people.