Gijon

The municipality of Gijón is situated in Nothern Spain, in the region of Asturias, region which has suffered from a deep industrial modernisation. Gijón covers a surface of 181.7 square kms and is located in the central area of the long Asturian coastline. Its coast, craggy and irregular, contrast with the gentle landscape of the inner areas. The maximum height above sea level is 672 m. Gijón, which a population close to 279.000 people, is both the most populated and the most industrial city of Asturias (1.000.000 people). The urban area of the city spreads over 27 km2 and concetrates 93 % of the total population, obtaining as a result a very high density of population.

Gijon is an expanding city. Despite the reduction in its natural increase rate, which has been a common factor to all municipalities over the last years, the local population has been growing especially thanks to the strong attraction Gijon has for the rest of the region; it has continuously been incorporating new inhabitants from the other areas of Asturias.

Gijon is a well structured and communicated city, with great possibilities for town development. Its said of sea cities that the passing of years have made them cosmopolitan and generously welcoming. Beyond the cliché, the people of Gijón renew this idea every day, like an exercise of hospitality that they know by heart.

From 2001 until now Gijón has developed different programs of prevention of school leavers. These initiatives involve the networking among schools, citizen security and social services from Gijón city Council and regional government.

This networking involves a common procedure that provides the study of not only each individual reality but also the global efforts of the students and families. Also, this procedure aims to raise awareness the population and specially the public administration about the important of school leavers.

With our participation in European projects our main target is the knowledge of different successful European experiences to explore the possibility of enriching our daily activities in this field on the one hand, and transmit our way of approaching from a global and networking vision, on the other.