M-Ado Jeunes celebrates its 30th anniversary serving youth!

Mélissa Gélinas

To celebrate M-Ado Jeunes' 30th anniversary, a variety of free activities took place at Maclaren Park (under the bridge) located at 575 Buckingham Avenue on Saturday, August 9. Inflatable structures, games, entertainment, shows, a barbecue, and much more were on hand to create a friendly, festive, and lively atmosphere.

"This summer marked a very special moment in the history of M-Ado Jeunes. We celebrated our 30 years of commitment to the youth of our community!" said Kathy Lépine, Coordinator at M-Ado Jeunes.

Several community organizations in the region contributed to the event, including CDC Rond Point, Centre Alpha Papineau, Maison d'Hébergement Pour Elles des Deux Vallées, Table de développement social de la Lièvre, the City of Gatineau, and the Lièvre Food Bank.

"We would like to sincerely and gratefully acknowledge the involvement of our partners, donors, and sponsors," said Lépine. "Their generosity demonstrates a deep confidence in our mission and a genuine commitment to the youth in our community."

Founded in 1995, M-Ado Jeunes is a non-profit organization that collaborates with the City of Gatineau, the Gatineau Police Service (SPVG), and several partners. It operates three service points in the east end of the city, in Buckingham and Angers. Since the beginning, about 7,000 young people have attended these establishments (youth centres) and it has been possible to observe a significant reduction in the rate of juvenile delinquency in the area.

According to Lépine, M-Ado Jeunes' mission is primarily to welcome young people aged 10 to 17 into a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment where they can create meaningful connections, express themselves freely, develop their autonomy, and reach their full potential. "Our youth centres are much more than meeting places. They are lively, stimulating environments where young people can reflect, get involved, experience community life, and participate in decision-making."

A variety of programs and interventions are also offered, such as educational workshops, psychosocial support, group projects, recreational activities, and more. "Our activities are accessible, often free or at very low cost, because we take into account the socioeconomic realities of the young people we support," Lépine emphasized. "We especially encourage their direct involvement in the selection, planning, and organization of activities. It's their ideas, their projects, their interests that guide our programming."

As coordinator, Lépine's role is, above all, people-oriented. "It's a role I embrace wholeheartedly because it allows me to maintain close contact with the team and the youth, and to ensure that everything we do is consistent with our values," she said.

The organization's success, she believes, is the result of true teamwork, united and committed to the well-being of the youth.