Youth centers are formed from the youth in villages, districts or towns as a non governmental NGO which has a priority role in education and entertainment activities. Youth from both sexes have the right in the membership of the youth centers and they can elect the board and decide together the set of policies and procedures of the center. The role of the youth center is concentrated in giving the opportunity for the youth to practice different activities such as sports, cultural, arts and also can acquire life skills in development.
The study aims to evaluate the performance of the youth centers in three governorates in Egypt+, the study identifies the physical conditions of the assessed youth centers, operational governance of youth centers and programs, composition of board members and their roles, and methods of having effective youth centers that serve its purpose of providing safe spaces for youth to practice sports, acquire knowledge and become effective members of their communities distribution of funds available for youth centers' usage.
The overall objective of this study is to assess the situation and performance of the twelve targeted youth centers in three governorates. This study aims at addressing some important components such as youth centers' physical buildings, strategic planning and activities; operational governance and set up; institutional and financial resources, gender attitudes; and finally their role to support and empower youth.
The geographical location of the study is three governorates: Behira, Alexandria, 6th October. 6 youth centers have been selected: Dariout El Mahmoudia and kom Asho in Behira governorate, El siouf and Dahria youth centers in Alexandria governorate, Manial shiha and Dahshour youth centers in 6th Oct governorate . 6 focus group discussions were conducted where 32 youth males and 3 youth females.
The study concluded that it is very important that youth participate in the preparation of the yearly activities plan of the youth center although 30% of the assessed youth centers allow limited youth participation in the planning of its activities. it has been noticed that central Planning uses the top bottom approach which has been practiced in most of the youth centers in the study. There is a need to decentralize decision making to the lowest tier of the pyramid which represents youth themselves .As youth voices matter, Youth participation should be stipulated clearly in the new operational regulations and / or amendments to allow of systematic obligatory participatory planning of youth. Youth centers should primarily plan and act merely as youth-serving organizations whereas youth centers are the service provider and youths are the customers / beneficiaries.
One of the study findings which was captured from the responses of the young women in this study is the absence of having an equal gender opportunities that allows female young women to exercise their rights inside the youth centers particularly in the different governorates. The prevailing cultural norms are leading to such discriminatory practices in the governorates.