ACCESS TO SERVICES AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES CENTERS

Youth centers where youth and youth groups converge have been part of the fabric of many communities for decades and have a wide range of benefits to the youths. 27 Yet a surprisingly large number of youths in many Saudi communities do not or cannot access these centers. Some of the benefits of youth activities centers include access to health and fitness facilities, team-building, a sense of identity, experience and self fulfilment. Accessibility to this youth centers is determined by how close they are located from residential areas where the youth live28. According to the “You are Here” training, access to youth centers are amongst the key challenges that faces youth in their cities

The Youth CPI Survey findings show that 32.8% of youth do not have access to social services. The social services in Saudi Arabia include programs relate to enhance resident’s life quality, and to maximize public involvement pf developing of community activities, as well as providing assistance and remedial care to persons with disabilities29. Moreover 47.5% of youth stated that youth activities centers are difficult to access (meaning located more than 5 km from residential areas). This makes it very difficult for youth to access them independently by foot. The is contrary to the findings that show that 24% of the youth centers are located within one to five kilometers from residential areas and 28.5% of youth activity centers are between 250 meters and a kilometer away from residential areas.

27 UN-Habitat (2013). UN-Habitat One Stop Youth Resouce Centre Model

28 Future Saudi Cities Program (FSCP), 2016, Youth CPI Report

29 Ministry of Labor and Social Development, (2018).