Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper)– In Genk, 15 youths, led by Hassan Emsallak, renovated a cherished building. Musti, Azedine, and Rayan (17) are proud to protect it.
The city of Genk has fixed up a building that was damaged by vandalism. More than 15 local young people helped with the renovation. Youth worker Hassan Emsallak is proud of their hard work, saying it paid off. He wanted to create a space for community activities, and many kids, even as young as 11, joined in. The first floor now has an area for girls, while downstairs features a fitness machine, a big screen for games, a billiard table, and a couch, making it a fun place for everyone.
What motivated Musti, Azedine, and Rayan to renovate their childhood building?
Musti, Azedine, and Rayan, all 17, have an emotional connection to a building they recently renovated, as it has been part of their lives since childhood. For them, this project was more than just fixing a structure, it was about reviving a space filled with memories.
Rayan Abbou said,
“We spent our childhood here, and now we’ve made an effort to renovate it.”
Over several months, the trio worked hard painting, cleaning, and decorating the building. Their involvement made them proud, with Rayan noting, “We young people can also roll up our sleeves and do everything ourselves.”
The journey to renovate the building was not easy, but it was worth it. Azedine talked about the tough times they had while painting, saying, “There was a lot involved in painting.” They paid close attention to everything, from cleaning the walls to making sure the edges were neat. This careful work took a lot of focus, but in the end, it paid off. The best part came when they started to furnish the space. “The furnishing afterwards was the best part,” Azedine said, as they could finally show their creativity by decorating it to match their styles. This hands-on project helped them appreciate hard work and turned the building into a special reminder of their childhood.
Youths commit to protecting the renovated youth centre from vandalism
The young people who helped renovate the youth centre are not worried about vandalism. Azedine, one of the volunteers, shared their determination, saying, “This is our youth centre, and we are going to protect it so that our children can enjoy it later.” He feels proud that they did the work themselves, making the space special. Azedine believes it’s important to have a nice place for their community and is committed to keeping it safe for future generations to enjoy.
It has been said that the renovated youth centre is an example of the hard work put in by young volunteers like Musti, Azedine, and Rayan. Their efforts have not only transformed the space but also brought them closer together and strengthened their ties to the community. They keep the centre safe for future generations so that young people will have a place to gather, learn, and grow in peace. By hosting events, workshops, and even the occasional mentorship, they create an entertaining environment that encourages creativity and teamwork and penalises vandalism.
