About us

The Youth Information centre of Brest

Brest is a large seaport situated on the Atlantic coast (300km from Rennes which is the capital of Brittany, our region). Population of Brest : 150 000 inhabitants including 26 000 students.

The Youth Information Centre of Brest (BIJ) is a part of a network of 1500 info points throughout France. Our network has adopted the European Youth Information Charter.

The BIJ is a not-for-profit organization with an independent status but financed by the city of Brest, the local government and the ministry of youth and sports.

The centre of documentation resources

The BIJ is running by a team of 6 professionals.

  • We welcome, inform and advise the public on : higher education, vocational training, employment, cultural and sports activities, travel, housing, health, individual rights, international mobility : jobs, volunteering, studying, work placements abroad...
  • The information is up-to-date, free and anonymous.
  • We collect information in addition of the national & regional documentation produced by network partners.
  • We produce local edition : additional information, Brest Youth Guide, Brest International Students Guide...
  • We organise workshops and events on : summer jobs, youth mobility, youth initiative support, housing, groups welcome with specific workshops...
  • We provide services : free Internet access, job offers, help with writing a CV or an application letter...
  • We propose on-line information on our website www.bij-brest.org (only in French, sorry)

As a resource, we liaise with social workers, youth centre, teachers, careers advisor, formal or non formal groups of youngsters, local authorities…

We are member of different coordination groups of social workers in Brest and the suburb : DSU (Urban Social Development), Youth Inclusion, health prevention, suburb youth workers coordination…

European Voluntary Service (EVS)

  • Accredited as sending organisation since 2003
    As an EVS sending organisation, the BIJ has been involved in the Youth In Action program and then in Erasmus + since 2003. We currently send between 10 to 13 young people every year. Since 2012, we are developping short-term EVS project for youngters with fewer opportunities (YFO) with our partners from Lithuania and Portugal. So since 2009, we sent 66 young people in long term EVS in different countries and since 2012, we sent 11 youngsters in short-term EVS.
  • Accredited as hosting organisation since 2012
    We have been hosting 1 volunteer a year since 2011. Indeed, this year it’s a young turkish boy, Cagdas who arrived in September and will stay til the end of June.

Here is Maciej’s interview (in EVS at the BIJ in 2015/2016) :