With construction work well under way in some neighborhoods, family and youth centers are sprouting in many districts in Jeddah to help enhance family values and keep young people on track.

These facilities are being established under the aegis of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and under the supervision of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed.

Work at Al-Safa district center is already in full swing and there are plans to build 10 youth and family district centers around that area to provide Jeddah residents with different activities for a healthy social and family life.

Hassan Al-Zahrani, secretary-general of the district centers, told Arab News that no effort has been spared to establish these centers, whose main goals are to help family bonds stay strong and enhance good social values in the community.

He said that over 6,000 citizens from all segments of society will benefit from these establishments monthly and that there are already plans being made to build 20 more centers in the next five years, which experts estimate will provide around 8,000 jobs in the area.

Another sponsor of the program, Ibrahim bin Hassan Sharbatly, deputy chairman of the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Foundation Board of Trustees, pointed out that the youth and family district centers are designed by professional engineers according to the needs of the residents.

One of the main proposals spearheaded by Sharbatly regarding the centers is that they will help overcome social problems in certain troubled areas, while providing much needed jobs in the same neighborhoods.

He explained that the Al-Safa district youth center is established on more than 11,000 square meters, where 90 percent of the site will be covered with green areas and playgrounds for residents.

According to Sharbatly, these facilities will also have services such as the district council and committees, library, physical health fitness rooms, training and entertainment centers, swimming pools and other healthy activities.