The Minister of Youth and Sports, Khady Diène Gaye, provided an update on the progress of the program to rehabilitate and equip Youth and Citizenship Centers and Departmental Centers for Popular and Sports Education. This initiative is part of the government's strategic objectives for 2026, aligned with the National Transformation Agenda and the National Development Strategy. According to the Minister, "the government has made young people's access to spaces for guidance, training, and civic engagement a national priority." She emphasized that Youth Centers play a fundamental role in civic education, training in community involvement, promoting citizenship, and supporting youth initiatives. Khady Diène Gaye specified that the "Educational Communities for All" program has already been launched and covers several localities across the country. “We have launched a major project to rehabilitate and equip existing facilities, and others will be built in areas not yet covered,” she declared, emphasizing the need to reduce territorial inequalities, particularly in rural and isolated areas. In parallel, the minister announced that an inventory and audit is underway regarding unfinished infrastructure inherited from previous programs. “Twelve stadiums and several local facilities have begun construction but have never been completed. Our responsibility is to ensure their resumption and completion,” she stated. Khady Diène Gaye also highlighted the ministry’s commitment to strengthening support for young people, especially in the face of new social challenges. “It is urgent to guide young people in the responsible use of social media and to combat the scourges of addiction, particularly tobacco and drugs,” she stressed.

 

In this context, the minister stressed the importance of diversifying the activities offered in Youth Centers. "Sport is not limited to football. We encourage the practice of basketball, martial arts, disabled sports, swimming, Scrabble and traditional sports," she stated.

The program also includes support for youth-led economic initiatives, particularly within the framework of the agricultural vacationers program and youth entrepreneurship initiatives. "Our goal is to empower young people to become agents of their own development," the minister stated.

 

For Khady Diène Gaye, the success of this vast project depends on strong synergy with local authorities. "Municipalities are essential partners for the financing, management, and maintenance of youth infrastructure," she concluded, thus launching an appeal for the mobilization of all public and private stakeholders around this national ambition.