Youth Centers in Morocco Receive Fresh Impetus Through 7,000 New Partnerships
Rabat – Morocco's Ministry of Youth has signed 7,000 partnership agreements with youth-focused associations and clubs in a push to reinvigorate youth centers across the country.
The initiative falls under the 2024-2025 national program for youth institutions, announced by Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid during a parliamentary session on Monday.
Responding to a question from the Istiqlal group about the state of youth centers, Bensaid explained that these partnerships aim to support local organizations that work either inside youth centers or within their own spaces. The move signals the ministry's broader goal of restoring relevance and vitality to these public institutions.
'We want youth centers to reflect the energy and aspirations of young Moroccans,' Bensaid said. 'This means opening the doors to meaningful programs, not just buildings.'
Under the new strategy, the ministry has equipped 150 youth centers with educational and recreational tools, including digital games and learning materials. Bensaid said this upgrade goes hand in hand with efforts to offer young people more diverse experiences, from arts and culture to personal and professional development.
The ministry also launched ASAS, a certification project tailored to socio-cultural animation, and introduced over 100 training hubs within youth centers to help local associations improve their leadership and management capacities.
At the heart of the program are two digital platforms: animateur.ma, which supports youth workers with resources and tools, and jam3iya.ma, which helps centers streamline internal management.
The ministry has also placed strong focus on encouraging volunteerism. It established themed clubs and partnered with both national and international organizations. A new national youth festival series is also underway, featuring activities that draw from Morocco's cultural wealth, traditional games, theater, music, storytelling, and folklore.
Bensaid noted that his ministry has continued to renovate youth centers every year under a rehabilitation plan launched in 2021. The final phase of that effort is expected to wrap up this year.
'What matters most is not the number of centers, but the spirit they carry,' Bensaid said. 'Young people deserve spaces where they feel seen, heard, and supported.'
Morocco's recent strides in revitalizing youth centers reflect a broader vision of empowerment through community, culture, and creativity. With renewed spaces, fresh partnerships, and a growing digital ecosystem, the country signals its belief in the potential of its young generation as key drivers of change. Tags: BensaidMorocco youth cultureyouth moroccoyouth programs
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