Kamenge Youth Centre (fr. Centre Jeunes Kamenge) is a youth centre located in Bujumbura, Burundi. Founded in 1991, the Italian immigrants Claudio Marano, Victor Ghirardi and Marino Bettinsoli had the idea of establishing a place where teenagers could meet in order to live peacefully together in surroundings in which war dominates and in which alcoholism, prostitution, unemployment, and crime are very prevalent. Kamenge Youth Centre is not only a centre where youngsters of the two tribes at enmity Hutu and Tutsi meet, but it is also an educational institution. People have the possibility attend courses, such as languages, mathematics, theatre, natural sciences, physical education and others.
In 2001, Kamenge Youth Centre counted around 20,000 members and organised around 30 activities every day. In 2002, it received the Right Livelihood Award for its work.
Famous quotes containing the words youth and/or centre:
“Call the bald man, “Boy;” make the sage thy toy;
Greet the youth with solemn face; praise the fat man for his grace.”
—Helen Rowland (1875–1950)
“Old politicians, like old actors, revive in the limelight. The vacancy which afflicts them in private momentarily lifts when, once more, they feel the eyes of an audience upon them. Their old passion for holding the centre of the stage guides their uncertain footsteps to where the footlights shine, and summons up a wintry smile when the curtain rises.”
—Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)