The city of Rafah is located approximately 24 miles south of Gaza city, next to the border with Egypt. Rafah Governorate, including its camps, has a total population of 145,000 inhabitants, 65% of which are refugees living in poor economic and social conditions. The El Shaboura Refugee camp & Al Shouka village, home to over 15,000 children, lack recreational facilities for children, who suffer silently from psychological disorders as a result of the current political conflict.

The construction of a youth centre is the camps' first priority. Currently, the El Shaboura Refugee camp has one youth activity club, one women’s program centre, four mosques, and nine community associations. World Vision plans to build on these few resources, through the construction of a youth centre. The centre will serve both the El Shaboura camp located in the heart of the city and Al Shouka village situated in the eastern part of the city.

These communities were selected not only due to their high levels of unemployment, but also because they consist of large numbers of poor and needy people. Providing services to these two areas will enhance public services offered to children and youth in the entire Governorate of Rafah, as well as improve living conditions in the local communities.

The proposed youth centre will consist of two floors; the first will be used as a garden and playground and will include four commercial stores. The second floor will be a cultural centre for children and will include five special rooms consisting of a computer lab, library, craft room, a music and art room, as well as a sport and recreation centre.

Groups of children at the centre will be divided according to age and gender into subgroups of 15 to 20 children. These subgroups will then rotate through the five departments at the centre for a minimum of two hours per day, three times per week.

The social interaction and diversity of activities will help to break the monontony and difficulties of life within the refugee camps and enable parents to see the positive effects of recreation upon their children.