What about the Youth Centre?

Twenty six years ago, the youth were looking for a new home as Ami, which had been a youth community for many years, was no longer a welcoming environment.

After submitting plans, they were given a plot of land on a permanent basis by the planners. The plot was contested by a neighbour who wrote to L’Avenir. Consequently, the Cultural Zone Group were told by Roger Anger to move the Youth Centre project into the Bliss Forest, but this was not communicated to the youth at that time.

The youth fundraised, then fenced the land they had been allocated and constructed the first building. However, they were subsequently informed that there had been a mistake. The land they had originally been allocated was on the route of the future Crown road. They requested reimbursement of the money they had spent but when this was refused they decided to stay as they didn’t have the financial means to begin again elsewhere.

It is unclear if they were ever offered an alternative site. One of the Aurovilians who helped set up the Youth Centre says that, in spite of repeatedly asking for an alternative site, they were never offered one. In any case, they wanted to remain near the centre so they could be easily accessible.  The fact that they felt marginalised and unsupported by the Auroville authorities may have been another factor in their decision to remain on the land they had originally been allocated.   

The Youth Centre has not been without controversy. But for 25 years generations of Auroville youth have lived there and taken up responsibility for making this place a sanctuary for youth and a centre for their self-development as responsible members of the larger Auroville community.  

They wish that the space they have created is respected and that the Right of Way does not pass through the Youth Centre.