Building friendships while swinging
This autumn, the Tartu Youth Work Center has undertaken a renovation of its youth rooms. First, the Ilmatsalu youth room received a new look, followed by Lille, then Anne, Lilleke, and Anneke. A week before the autumn break, the Lilleke youth center was closed, and during that time, several changes were made to the youth room. In the Lilleke youth room, the lighting was replaced, a wall was painted, furniture was rearranged, we got a new TV, and four new, distinct [...]
A Youth Worker's Best Friends: Self-Care and Professionalism
Article author Sära-Sthella Tohv. Social professions, including youth work, mostly originated from 19th-century charitable work, often carried out by religious organizations and volunteers (Kötsi, 2017). Today, however, youth work has evolved into a science-based profession, which is much more than merely 'babysitting and playing with children'. However, much work still needs to be done both within the field and […].
Autumn and sleep
Article author Mari Krüüner. In autumn, as the days shorten and the weather turns colder, many people may experience a decline in mood and a decrease in energy. It is precisely at this time that sleep and supporting mental health become especially important. Sleep is one of the most significant factors that strongly influences our physical health, well-being, cognitive functioning, and emotional state. We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping. […].
Good Mood Club meditation day
Every Wednesday at 3 p.m., Anne's younger target group center hosts activities for the Good Mood Club. At least once a month, we conduct meditation sessions, during which young people learn to relax and switch off for a moment. Sometimes young people are confused about what exactly this activity entails. Indeed, it is difficult to put into words, and expressions that are easily understandable to multilingual young people aged 7-11 must be carefully […]
5 cool opportunities to do at the youth center during the October autumn break…
The autumn school holiday is just around the corner! During the holiday week, taking place from October 21st to 27th, our centres are packed with various awesome opportunities just for you! P.S. There's a link below the article where you can find more information. All activities and events are free for you! 1. Participate in the e-sports day at Anne and Lille youth centres on Monday! In short: an awesome Xbox gaming day. Games include Jackbox (various […])
Vote for idea #6!
Voting for Tartu's participatory budget has begun! Support young people and vote for idea #6 – give them more opportunities to spend their free time in diverse ways and develop! Why support this particular idea? At Järve tee 8, there is an interest and youth center where we want to create a true community center with an outdoor area offering diverse opportunities! Imagine a pleasant area where people of different ages can […]
Autumn in youth centers
Indian summer is coming to an end, and the weather is getting colder, leaves are falling, and the sun gradually sets earlier, marking the arrival of autumn. With the onset of autumn, young people have already taken the initiative to create various autumn decorations; decorating candles has been the biggest hit, along with making autumn-themed window decorations. Within the cooking club, young people have made delicious warm baked goods such as Kinder [...]
75 inches of pure fun: the game party at the youth center begins!
Hey, dear young people and gaming enthusiasts! The last month at Lille Youth Center has been like a big spring cleaning – old consoles were dusted off and broken controllers were fixed (thanks, Alzgamer Tartu!). We even had to put locks on so no one could “accidentally” download or upload everything they saw (haha, because let's be honest, some just can't accept, [...])
Let's go to the woods!
At the beginning of autumn, many people's school and work obligations restart at full speed, and getting back into a routine takes time. If stress begins to accumulate excessively in daily life, hobbies and a change of environment are good helpers. The leaves will soon turn colorful, and this autumn is warm. Doesn't that sound like an ideal time for a walk or a hike in the forest? Being in nature is a well-known […].
In the Forest with Our Own: How We Went Mushroom Picking with Annekese's Youth
For the second year in a row, we went mushroom picking in the forest with the young people from Annekese. This time, both Estonian- and Russian-speaking young people, as well as young people with Ukrainian and Iranian roots from Tartu, picked mushrooms. There were lots of emotions, and lots of forest fun! Going to the forest turned out to be quite an adventure for the city kids, and there were challenges too. Mushroom picking with young people requires proper preparation, as the young people (and their parents) need to be clear about […]