Muliaage garage transformed into Youth Hub with arts and wellness spaces

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday officially inaugurated the country’s first “Youth Hub,” a government-led initiative to empower, skill, and connect young people through a dedicated community space.

The new center is located on Lilly Magu in Malé, on the site of the former Muliaage garage. The transformation of the space into a youth-focused facility fulfills a presidential pledge to create more inclusive and accessible environments for young people.

The Youth Hub features a range of facilities, including:

•  A creative space for artists  

•  A music recording studio  

•  A “Happiness Lounge” dedicated to youth mental health  

•  Study halls accessible to students free of charge with a valid student ID  

The center is designed to be both youth-friendly and environmentally conscious. It will host a variety of programs such as boot camps, skill exchange sessions, virtual reality training, culinary events, workshops, and community art initiatives.

The area surrounding the Youth Hub is home to several schools, making the facility easily accessible to students. The government envisions the space as a “Youth Third Space”, a community-based venue that addresses the lack of safe, inclusive environments for youth outside of home and school.

Following the inauguration, President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed toured the facility and engaged with staff to learn more about the services on offer.

The Cabinet approved the conversion of the former garage into a youth center on November 18, 2024, as part of broader efforts to expand youth development infrastructure across the country.