So what to do with all this free time—the joys and worries of summer break
Summer is in full swing. Temperatures are climbing steadily, and there’s more and more time to spend at the beach chasing the waves. Summer is a great time to really slow down, put your feet up, and take a few pleasant, leisurely breaths. In everyday life and in a society where so much emphasis is placed on productivity and rushing around, we tend to forget the importance of rest. But […]
A Youth Worker's Story: The Best Training of My Life—How I Developed My Creativity in Norway
SALTO-YOUTH.net is a real treasure trove. For those who haven’t come across it yet—simply put, it’s a pan-European network for supporting and developing youth work, which offers non-formal learning materials to youth workers and youth leaders and organizes training sessions and networking activities as part of the European Commission’s training strategy. I found a training course titled “Creative Self – Art Practices for Youth Empowerment” on the SALTO training calendar (“Creative Self […]
Do digital environments bring us together or make us more lonely?
Have you ever had a day where you’ve been chatting with friends on Snapchat, Instagram, or Discord all day long, but still feel lonely in the evening? It might seem strange—how can we feel lonely when we’re connected to others almost all the time? Loneliness is a topic that’s being discussed more and more. According to the World Health Organization, about one in six people experience loneliness, and the highest rates […]
Philosophizing with Children and Youth
Many 21st-century skills are closely linked to thinking skills. These include, for example, creative and critical thinking, as well as a collaborative and caring mindset. These skills can also be developed in youth work through philosophizing with children and young people. Philosophizing creates more space for discussion and helps participants become more skilled at articulating their opinions, listening to others, making decisions and choices, and solving problems. […]
The Tartu Youth Work Brigade’s anniversary summer kicks off with a parade and an evening of work brigade songs
Today, June 15, Tartu will kick off the 30th summer of the Tartu Youth Work Camp, which will bring together 238 young people this year. The opening event of this anniversary year begins at 4:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Anne Youth Center and proceeds with a parade to Town Hall Square, where the start of the work camp season will be celebrated with a speech by Mayor Urmas Klaas and the taking of the work camp oath. The opening ceremony will be followed at 7:00 p.m. by an evening of work camp songs in the courtyard of the Tartu City Museum. “This year’s work camp summer […]
Ukrainian Youth in Tartu: A Week That Left a Lasting Impression
In early June, from June 8–14, the Tartu Youth Work Center had the extraordinary honor and pleasure of hosting young people from Ukraine—young people whose lives have been completely turned upside down by the war. The camp was made possible thanks to financial support from the City of Tartu, and the Tartu Youth Work Center wholeheartedly took on the task of organizing the program. The week began creatively—in a stencilling workshop, the young people got to experiment with how colors and stencils […]
A Children's Day bursting with joy and youthful energy!
The theme of this year’s Child Protection Day was the question: “A young person speaks—are you listening?” The need to be seen, heard, and truly listened to became clear right from the first preparatory meeting, where young volunteers shared the issues they consider important in the daily lives of children and youth. Almost without exception, all participants highlighted today’s fast-paced lifestyle—home, school, friends, relationships, and the digital world […]
A mobile youth center will be on the move in Tartu this summer
From June 1 to September 1, the Tartu Youth Work Center is launching the MoNo bus—a mobile youth center—as part of a pilot project, bringing youth services directly to young people at their everyday gathering spots. It is a specially adapted van designed to provide young people with a safe and supportive environment in areas where youth work services are currently unavailable or where young people cannot easily access them on a daily basis. The MoNo bus will travel to various locations in Tartu […]
Youth workers from the Tartu Youth Work Center on a study trip to Portugal
From April 19–26, youth workers from the Tartu Youth Work Center participated in a study trip to Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the Erasmus+ program, to learn about local street youth work methods, non-formal education, and ways to support young people in the NEET situation. Study trips give youth workers the opportunity to step outside their usual work environment for a moment, familiarize themselves with different practices, and bring the knowledge and effective solutions they gain back to their own community (Pavlakias and Comas, 2025). Such experiences help […]
Tartu Youth Work Center Study Tour Seminar: Bringing Together Knowledge from Around the World
This spring, the staff of the Tartu Youth Work Center took part in two study trips: one to Cologne, Germany, and the other to Lisbon, Portugal. On June 3, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., we will gather in the NOKK room on the second floor of the Anne Youth Center (Uus 56, Tartu) for an information seminar on this year’s study trips. We invite all youth workers, activity leaders, and interested city residents from Tartu, Tartu County, and beyond to our information seminar to share with you all […]