Living With Teenagers in Spain

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Living With Teenagers in Spain

Youth Organisations

There are a number of national and regional youth councils which aim to bring together youth groups and promote activities and the interests of young people in Spain.

Attached to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, the Institute of Youth (Insituto de la Juventud, INJUVE) aims to promote cultural communication between youth associations, develop and co-ordinate an information and documentation system, maintain international relations and co-operation in matters related to youth and promote youth exchanges at national and international level.

The INJUVE website has much useful information regarding youth opportunities as well as links to all the local youth councils in the various regions of Spain.

• For the INJUVE website: Click here (in Spanish)
• For more addresses and contact details: Click here

Youth sports

There is a range of social and sporting activities available to teenagers but these can vary greatly depending on location. Facilities in cities and major towns are generally very good. Municipal sports complexes, known as polideportivos ("multisports"), are located in the larger towns and cities and there are many private country clubs, sports centres and gymnasiums.

Swimming pools and tennis courts are widely available. The cost for most facilities is reasonable.

The local Yellow Pages or Tourist Office is an excellent source of information for these facilities. Alternatively, consult the website of the Ministry of Education and Science which has links to sports associations.

• For the contact information of organisations from Ministry of Education and Science: Click here

Many schools run clubs for sporting and other activities after the school day has finished. There is usually a fee to participate.

Scouting is popular among young people in Spain. Anyone interested in joining or finding out more about the Scout movement in Spain can visit one of the following websites:

• Federation of Scouting Associations in Spain (Federación de Asociaciones de Scouts de España, ASDE)
• The Catholic Scout Movement (Movimiento Scout Católico, MSC)
• The Federation of Scouts and Guides in Catalonia (Federació Catalana d'Escoltisme i Guiatge, FCEG)

International youth clubs

The Iberoamerican Youth Organisation gathers together the Ministries and Agencies responsible for youth in Spain, Portugal and Latin America and arranges various activities, training and research. The website (in Spanish) has a useful resource list of all the state institutions dealing with youth in these countries.

Discount Schemes for Young People

Euro <26 Card

The Euro 26 Card offers discounts on a range of services and facilities in 38 countries. It is valid up to the age of 30 years. The card can be ordered online or bought from one of the offices listed on the Euro 26 page. 

• To find out where to buy the Euro 26 card in Spain: Click here 

Go 25 ISIC Card and IYTC Card

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is an internationally recognised student ID which offers discounts all over the world. Any person, over 12 years of age, and in full time education may apply for this card. 

Non students may apply for the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) through the ISIC website.

• For more information, or to apply: Click here 

School Holidays

Spain has long holiday periods compared to many countries with the school year running from mid-September to mid-June. The long summer holidays can present a problem for parents in terms of organising care and activities for their teenagers.

Many families choose to go away at some point during the long summer break – taking children out of school during term-time for holidays is strongly discouraged.

• Residential and non-residential holiday camps have become more common in recent years. Many are sports orientated (such as soccer camps).
  • Outward Bound runs courses in Spain: Click here
• Older teenagers may like to travel and there are various schemes to help reduce the cost of this.
  • See the European Youth Portal for links to travel-related pages for young people: Click here
  • INJUVE has information on reduced price travel, youth hostels and various young peoples discount schemes which are available: Click here (in Spanish)

Museums and other attractions

Many museums hold workshops and youth oriented sessions during school holidays. Local tourist information offices and town halls have details.

• For information in English visit the official tourist site for Spain: Click here
• The Art and Culture section has regular updates on special events and offers for reduced admission prices: Click here

Exchange visits

Within the European Union and beyond there are plenty of study exchanges for young people.

The Spain Exchange website contains useful information related to exchanges within Spain and throughout the world.

For more information see the sections on Study Abroad and International Exchange. 

Voluntary Work and Exchanges

Voluntary work is also popular and often allows young people to gain valuable work experience. The European Youth Portal is a good source of information on projects and provides links to organisations looking for voluntary workers in and outside Spain.

• For more information: Click here
• Additional information on voluntary work worldwide can be found by contacting the AFAIJ: Click here (in Spanish)
• See also Youth in Action (Acciones del Programa Juventud en Acción): Click here (in Spanish)

Youth Employment

The minimum working age in Spain is 16, although permission from parents or guardians is usually required up to 18 years of age. Any work contract with a child under 16 is invalid although an employer must pay for any services provided. Employers who breach the rules governing child employment in Spain are liable to legal action.

Various contract types exist including: indefinite contracts, fixed duration contracts, contracts for specific tasks or services, temporary contracts, training contracts and work experience contracts. The contracts used in youth employment are collectively known as los contratos formativos.

1. Young people may be given training/trainee contract (Contrato para la formación) – these are designed for workers over 16 but under 21 years of age. They can run for between six months and two years
2. If the teenager has recent relevant qualifications they may instead have a work experience contract (Contrato en prácticas). These contracts also last for between six months and two years

Children under 18 years of aged are prohibited from working at night (between 22:00 and 06:00) or more than eight hours per working day. Employers must ensure that young employees receive an adequate rest period - a minimum of 12 hours between shifts. Workers under 18 years of age must also be allowed 30 minutes rest period for every 4.5 hours work.

Seasonal work and part-time work for young people is available but depends to a large extent on location. 

• Find more information on Spanish employment law see the European job mobility portal, EURES
• Further information is available in Spanish from the website of the Ministry of Economy (Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda)

Finding work

Many companies publicise vacation jobs in local media and online. EEA (European Economic Area) nationals have free access to the services of the Spanish employment service, INEM or Oficina de Empleo. All cities and most towns have an office and staff can assist in finding temporary and permanent jobs.

• For private temping agencies see the Yellow Pages for "Empresas de Trabajo Temporal"
• For help creating CVs and searching for employment see the website for Young Employment (Empleo Joven): Click here (in Spanish)

Teenagers and Counselling

INJUVE publishes health guides on matters relevant to young people, including information on anorexia and bulimia and mental health.

• For information: Click here (in Spanish)

• The Ministry of Health has English translations of some of its health guides: Click here
• Information also from ERYICA (European Youth Information and Counselling Agency): Click here

Teenagers and alcohol

Spain has similar youth alcohol issues to many other European countries including France and the UK. Government quoted figures claim that 65 percent of 14 to 18 year olds in Spain drink regularly.

• The Ministry of Health is responsible for monitoring alcohol related issues and publishes information on its website to discourage young people from drinking: Click here (in Spanish)

Alcoholics Anonymous (Alcoholicos Anonimos) is active in Spain and there is an English-language version of its website. There are also English language meetings in many areas.

• Full details can be found on the website: Click here

Teenagers and drugs

Figures from ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) survey released in 2009 show that although drug use is wide spread amongs young people in Spain, the numbers of young people smoking and taking illicit drugs has fallen.

• For further information from ESPAD: Click here 

Drug use and possession for personal use of some drugs does not constitute a criminal offence under Spanish law. However, public consumption is penalised with fines. One clear difference is Spain's marijuana policy - it encourages marijuana smokers to grow their own product. Personal consumption and home cultivation have been decriminalised, but buying or selling marijuana/hashish remains a criminal offence.

EU Policy, "Action Plan on Drugs 2009-2012" aims to reduce the demand and supply of drugs within Europe.

• For information from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction: Click here 
• For further information on Spain's drug policy: Click here

Teenage pregnancy

Spain has traditionally had low rates of teenage pregnancy compared to other European countries. The family planning association, FPFE (Federacion de Planificcacion Familiar de Espana) has a website section aimed at young people with information on regional centres.

• For regional contact details: Click here (in Spanish)

Contraception is rarely free in Spain. The morning after pill (la pildora del dia despues) is widely used and is sold on prescription at pharmacies. Clinical abortion is legal and in some instances a proportion of the cost is covered by social security. 

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Termination of Pregnancy/Abortion in Spain

Driving

The minimum age for driving a car is 18. Drivers must hold a licence which is only awarded after successful completion of a theory and practical driving test.

Over 14s may drive scooters (mopeds) 50cc or less without a licence, but must still provide medical evidence of their fitness to be in charge of the vehicle. In addition they must spend a minimum period (usually at least three hours) with a driving school and undertake a basic theory and practical test.

• See Spanish Driving Licences: Getting, Renewing & Points

Related Information

• European Youth Portal website from the EU for young people living or considering moving to Europe
• Spanish Ministry of Education and Science
• European Job Mobility Portal (EURES)

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