Ilmatsalu youth's small dream
The older teens at Ilmatsalu have had a little dream for a long time: a pool table—after all, every youth center serving older teens has one. Until now, Ilmatsalu has only had a ping-pong table, which wasn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea. So, one day in January, the topic of a pool table for the Ilmatsalu Youth Center came up again among the youth workers. I had the idea to post “Trash for Treasure in Tartu” on Facebook […]
Need summer workers? Tartu Youth work camp is looking for employers.
Need summer workers? Tartu Youth work camp is looking for employers. Tartu Youth Work Center invites companies, organizations, and individuals to contribute to the success of the 30th year of the Tartu Youth work camp. The camp offers young people aged 13–19 in Tartu the opportunity to gain their first work experience in a safe and supportive environment. For employers, this is an opportunity to contribute to the community and youth development by offering simpler seasonal jobs to young people who have joined the camp during the summer. Providing young people with their first work experience is [...]
What is the greatest value of youth work for young people?
An international study, published in 2021 in the Journal of Social Policy, highlights young people's direct experiences in open youth work in six European countries, including Estonia. The study collected over 800 personal stories from young people, with Estonia's contribution being the largest. Young people were asked what changes had occurred in their lives thanks to their participation in youth work. A clear picture emerged from the answers: youth work does not [...]
"It's magical!" – memories from the Tartu Youth Festival 2026
I thought that the Youth Festival would be just another big performance for me as the host. That it would just be another role for me as a theater lover. But it was so much more than that... As soon as I had the opportunity to join the organizing team for the 2026 Youth Party, I didn't think twice and signed up. And then things moved very quickly – weekly [...]
Financial literacy – a necessary skill in everyday life
Financial literacy is a vitally important skill that helps young people make more informed choices and cope better in everyday life. This doesn't just mean saving money, but also the ability to plan, think ahead, and make well-considered decisions. The earlier young people are introduced to the basics of financial literacy, the more confident and independent they will be in their decisions in the future. In our youth center, we consciously focus on financial literacy [...]
A place where everyone finds their own pace
In the Ilmatsalu youth and community center, both urban and rural environments, with their distinct lifestyles, are intertwined in a special symbiosis. Significant changes are taking place in the Ilmatsalu area: the construction of new residential buildings will soon begin, bringing new people. However, there are also people who have lived here their entire lives and keep long-standing traditions alive. There are also those who have left in the meantime and now returned […]
Winter break with Tartu Youth Work Center February 23-27
At the end of February, it's time for school students to rest again, and as always, we give our young people the opportunity to spend their free time meaningfully. The school holiday begins on the evening of February 20th, with an outing for 12 young people to Narva, where they will visit the Narva Sea Scouts, joined by young people from Tallinn and Saku. Together, they will play various get-to-know-you and team games, they will do city orienteering and an evening walk […]
"Put that phone away!"
During the winter months, the days in the youth center become increasingly crowded, with young people bored, not in the mood for board games, but with no time for homework either. It is cold enough outside that no one wants to go out skating voluntarily. But what can you do indoors when there is nothing to do? First, you have to spend hours looking at the game shelf, thoughtfully tilting your head from one side to the other, at least three games [...]
Mobile Youth Work – Present Where Young People Are
It's late afternoon. A group of young people stands in front of the shopping center. Some are scrolling on their phones, while others are simply chatting. Two adults approach them, neither asking why the young people are there nor telling them to leave. They don't immediately ask anything important, but simply say: "Hi, how's it going? Would you like to chat with us for a bit?" This is often how [...] begins.
Riin Juurma, Head of Lille Youth Centre: "I want every young person to dare to be truly themselves!"
Riin, the head of Lille Youth Centre and coordinator of mobile youth work, describes herself as coming from a classic background – a country child from Jõgeva, no stranger to hard work. Even as a child, she knew her calling and passion were connected to children and young people – dreaming of becoming a teacher back then. After high school, she went to Tallinn Pedagogical University, where she studied geoecology and marine biology, in addition to this […]