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The Tartu Youth Work Center organized a sock design contest with the goal of giving young people the opportunity to put their creativity to the test and contribute to the design of new TNTK souvenirs. A total of 14 entries were submitted to the contest. The winning design was selected by a jury consisting of young people from all of our youth centers, a representative from the Tartu City Youth Council, an artist, and the director of the Tartu Youth Work Center. The winner of the contest was 16-year-old Sonja Ruumet, whose design will soon be featured on actual socks! A big thank you to all the participants who contributed their ideas to the contest! 

Change, Learning, and Growth at the Tartu Youth Work Center A New Beginning in a New Place A while ago, a new chapter began in my professional life. I started working at the Tartu Youth Work Center as a senior youth worker. This brought with it a new work environment, new people, and greater responsibility, but also the opportunity to view youth work from a slightly different perspective than before. Starting a new job always means adapting. Even when the field is familiar, you have to get to know new people, the workflow, and how the organization operates. I wanted to write down my experiences so far to reflect on how I’ve adapted to my new role, what has brought me joy, what has challenged me, and what I’ve learned along the way. How did my journey in youth work begin? My…

As befits the start of a new school year, the Lille Youth Center is kicking off the new season with a bang and an expanded selection of clubs. All clubs will meet on Fridays, and activities related to the clubs’ themes will take place throughout the week. But what are our new clubs? We’re continuing with the Hiking Club, where we don’t just talk about hiking—we also learn essential life skills and discuss health in a broader sense. In the Hiking Club, we’ll discover how to maintain our physical and mental health, become familiar with hiking gear and Estonian hiking trails, and learn about nature and environmental protection. In addition, we develop orienteering, planning, and teamwork skills, and we learn everything through hands-on experience: building a campfire, preparing food, packing a backpack, and providing first aid. And most importantly—…

Every young person has their own story, questions, and challenges. Sometimes, all it takes to move forward is for someone to help clarify their thoughts and identify possible solutions. The youth counselors at the Tartu Youth Work Center support young people in precisely these moments, offering them the opportunity to talk about both everyday worries and more complex issues.Let’s meet Oksana Knjaz, a youth counselor working at our Anne House. Who are you, and how did you end up working as a youth counselor? I’m a youth counselor and a psychologist by training. I came to work here because I wanted to use my previous knowledge and experience to ensure that young people have someone to turn to when needed, to talk to, and to work with to find solutions. What appeals to you most about this job? I like that every young person and every conversation is…

The Tartu Youth Work Center’s sock design contest is about to begin! Design socks using the provided sock template. You can find the template here or get a paper copy from your youth worker. You can create your design by hand or digitally. Include your name, contact information, and—if you’d like—a brief explanation of your design.Submit your finished entry by October 25 at the latest to helene.toomeoks@tartu.ee or give it to your youth worker. The winning design will be used to produce real TNTK socks! You can find the contest guidelines and additional materials here! 

There are times in a young person’s life when they don’t have to face their thoughts, worries, or questions alone. The Tartu Youth Work Center employs two youth counselors whom young people can turn to when they need someone to listen, help them make sense of a situation, and work together to find possible solutions.Youth counselors also support youth workers and help identify and address situations where a young person may need additional support. In this way, counseling is part of a broader network aimed at supporting young people’s well-being and ability to cope.Let’s get to know one of our youth counselors, Kairi Kivaste. Who are you, and how did you end up working as a youth counselor? I’m a midwife by training, and I first came into contact with young people professionally while I was still studying to become a midwife—I used to give sex education lectures at schools.…

Today, October 2, at 3:00 p.m., a new playground will open in the courtyard of the Anne Youth Center (Uus 56, Tartu), providing younger visitors with more opportunities for active leisure.The playground is part of a comprehensive plan for the Anne Youth Center’s outdoor area, which is being implemented in phases. In the coming years, the plan is to develop the entire outdoor area to create a diverse activity environment that meets the needs of young people of different ages. In designing the new playground, particular attention was given to the needs of 7- to 11-year-olds, who make up a significant portion of the Anne Youth Center’s visitors. Until now, the outdoor area has offered more activities for older youth, who have access to a low-level adventure course, a mini-ramp, a basketball hoop, and a table tennis table. The new playground complements the existing facilities and diversifies the activities available to younger visitors. However, the goal of developing the outdoor area is not merely to provide…

The summer of 2026 at the Tartu Youth Work Camp offered young people much more than just work experience. Feedback collected at the end of the camp clearly highlighted the things the young people valued most: new friends, their first earned paycheck, special experiences, and shared activities. New Friends Were the Biggest Win The camp participants most frequently highlighted the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Many young people described how, in just a few days, the group became a close-knit and supportive community where everyone felt comfortable. Several respondents specifically named their fellow camp participants and the time spent together as the best part of their summer camp experience. First earned pay This year, more than half of the camp participants were taking part in the camp for the first time. Therefore, they did not…

What happens when you give young people the chance to think for themselves, experiment, build, and actually bring their ideas to life? An interactive adventure game called “The Lost Trail” is currently taking shape in Ilmatsalu, and local youth have been involved in its creation from start to finish. From idea to actual game... It all started when some young people came to the youth center and complained that nothing ever happens in Ilmatsalu. Instead of just complaining, they came up with the idea of creating something exciting themselves—something that would provide an experience for others as well. At the same time, it would bring more young people to the youth center. During our discussions, we came up with the idea of creating an escape room in the old fish farm facilities of the Ilmatsalu Youth and Community Center. The idea was turned into a project and submitted through EANK’s Ideepuhur. After receiving a positive response, the project began…