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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…

What if, instead of waiting for young people to come to it, a youth center went to where young people actually are? Over the past four years, the Tartu Youth Work Center has been developing mobile youth work in Tartu’s public spaces. This summer, a mobile youth work bus (the MoNo bus) was tested for the first time to see if this approach could help reach young people who do not yet participate regularly in youth work, and to determine what role the bus could play in Tartu’s youth work.    Over the course of three months, the bus visited various neighborhoods, playgrounds, skateparks, beaches, and events. Over the course of the summer, youth workers made 1,904 contacts with 483 different young people. The data comes from Logiraamat, a nationwide monitoring system for youth centers, and a survey conducted among young people at the end of August. The idea…

In July, the Ilmatsalu community organized a one-day trip to Vormsi Island. Participants gathered early in the morning, before 6:00 a.m., to make sure they caught the ferry on time. They then set off, enjoying the summer views through the bus windows. The group of nearly 50 people included both residents of Tartu’s rural areas and young people from the Tartu Youth Work Center. People came on the trip with friends and relatives, and the atmosphere was friendly, close-knit, and curious from the very beginning. On Vormsi, we were greeted by local guide Krista Veisson, who spent the entire day sharing fascinating stories about the island’s history and present-day life and led the group to the island’s most significant and beautiful spots. It was fascinating to learn about life on the island and see a community that lives at a different pace compared to the mainland.…

Tead?Fest took place once again in Tartu, bringing together a large number of children, young people, and families. The festival offered visitors a variety of activities, new knowledge, and opportunities to learn about different organizations and the opportunities they provide. The day passed in a joyful atmosphere, and thanks to the festival’s partners and sponsors, the event was a great success. Throughout the day, visitors were able to participate in various workshops, activities, and games. During the evening program, the mayor of Tartu gave a welcome speech, and the beloved Estonian artist Eik took the stage; his performance brought a lot of energy and a great atmosphere to the festival. One of the most popular activities was the bingo game, which encouraged participants to explore different areas of the festival and complete exciting tasks. The bingo game helped visitors actively move around and get acquainted with the partners’ activities…