Tunis: The number of youth institutions in Tunisia stands at 518, said Director in charge of Youth Institutions at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Youssef Mechiche. This includes 342 fixed youth centres and a further 48 mobile ones, the official further told TAP, as well as 48 youth centres in youth hostels, 25 holiday camp centres, 30 units for district entertainment and 25 youth tourism centres. A TND 1.2 million budget was earmarked by the ministry for the development of these institutions in 2024, including 186 youth clubs inland. This in addition to TND 3.5 million to pay for the equipment of all institutions. "Youth institutions contribute actively to stimulating initiatives and joint action and meeting the needs of youth keen to secure openness to the world as there are 40 second-generation youth centres, 54 Web TVs, 100 internet radio stations as well as artifical intelligence clubs and games and hobbies rooms, Mechiche said. Youth centres play a key role in protecting youth, the official further told TAP, as part of the ministry's 2023-2035 strategy in its peace, security and prevention of risky behaviours dimension (drug use, violence, irregular migration). Youth institutions lend particular importance to prevention. Severel programmes had been developed to this end, in coordination with international organisations, such as Supporting Youth Policy and Extremism Prevention Project and the Helma Project for Youth Employment under a partnership with the lnternational Organisation for Migration. This in addition to the Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Economic and Social Inclusion Project. Some 511 programmes in 2023 benefited nearly 85,000 young Tunisians. Youth institutions proved to be the best in youth tourism with an accommodation capacity of 4,613 beds shared out as follows: 16 youth institutions in forested areas, 12 in the south, 32 beach youth institutions (2,476 beds for the summer season) and 15 institutions in urban areas. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse