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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…

On Tuesday, September 1, the traditional Day of Wisdom will be celebrated, and Tead?Fest will once again take over downtown Tartu. The event, which runs from 12:50 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., will bring a diverse stage program, exciting activities, and workshops to Tartu’s Town Hall Square and Küüni Street. The day will conclude with a concert by EiKi. Tead?Fest kicks off at 12:50 p.m. with a group dance by Tartu Private School. Afterward, the co-organizers will launch their activities, and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in various workshops, test their skills in hands-on activities, and explore recreational opportunities. Several co-organizers are contributing to this year’s Tead?Fest, including Bolt, VELO Sports Club, Autosõit OÜ, and many others. In addition to the activities, the stage program offers a variety of entertainment, including dance, discussions, science, and music. At 5:00 p.m., the AHHAA Science Theater will take the stage,…

Summer vacation is slowly coming to an end, and for many of us, it’s time to get back into the school routine. To make the transition less abrupt, it’s a good idea to review your habits and goals before school starts. Good habits help make school days calmer and easier. The most important thing is to find a balance between studying, rest, and free time. Establish a sleep routine. Before school starts, it’s a good idea to start going to bed a little earlier in the evenings so your body can get used to the rhythm of school days. Getting enough sleep helps you focus better in class, learn more effectively, and be more productive throughout the day. When you’re tired, completing tasks takes much more time and energy. A good day starts with a good night’s sleep. Set realistic goals for yourself…

From August 15–21, the Erasmus+ learning mobility program for youth workers, “Exit Burnout & Recharge,” took place in Latvia, with the participation of professionals working with young people from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and Cyprus. Helene, our Development Manager from the Tartu Youth Work Center, participated in the learning mobility. The focus of the event was on the well-being of youth workers and the prevention of burnout. Over the course of the week, participants discussed burnout, stress, and self-care, and tried out various practical exercises that can be used to support their own well-being, support their staff, and in their work with young people. Among other things, they explored adventure and sound therapy methods. The content of the study visit was based on the results and methodologies of the Erasmus+ KA2 project “Exit Burnout.” The project’s goal was to find practical and innovative ways to prevent and reduce burnout among youth workers and…

In the second half of April, the Ilmatsalu and Elva Youth Centers held a collaborative project called “Spring Awakening,” which offered young people the opportunity to visit youth centers in two different regions and meet local youth.  On April 22, the first meeting took place at the Ilmatsalu Youth Center, where the main focus was on working together. One activity was a photo scavenger hunt, which encouraged the young people to observe nature more closely. They looked for details that people usually just walk right past, and it was surprisingly exciting to see how each team tackled the tasks in their own unique way. Some focused on creativity, others looked for funny solutions, and in the end, it was exciting to look at all the photos everyone had taken together. The young people from Ilmatsalu wanted to organize a game of “trifaa” for the youth from Elva, and the Elva youth were more than happy to join in. After the activities, everyone gathered around a shared table to make open-faced sandwiches. It was really great to see how the older and younger age groups actively interacted with each other and discussed things. That’s a good thing…

On August 12, we celebrate International Youth Day, which the city of Tartu also celebrated this year in collaboration with the Tartu Youth Work Center. You can find a more detailed overview of the Youth Day we organized here. I spoke with one of the youngest members of the Youth Day organizing team—Robin—who got to try his hand at both event planning and emceeing during the day.  Who are you and where are you from? I’m Robin—people also call me Ron—and I’m from Tartu. How did you end up on the Youth Day organizing team in the first place? The youth workers invited me, and other young people from Lillekese who were already on the organizing team inspired me to join. You’re active at the youth center and also take part in various events. Can you think of any other events where you’ve helped with the organization or participated as a volunteer? Yes, for example, I also took part in the youth center’s “Home Café Day” this spring. I really enjoyed it there. It was just so nice…

On August 12, 2026, an event celebrating Youth Day—Tartu Youth Day—took place as part of the “Tartu Sumina” festival in Tartu’s Old Town. The event took place on Rüütli Street near St. John’s Church, began at 12:00 p.m., and lasted until 9:15 p.m. In previous years, Youth Day in Tartu has been celebrated on a smaller scale in the courtyard of the Lille Youth Center. This year, however, Tartu is the Estonian Youth Capital, and Youth Day is part of the activities of “Estonian Youth Capital Tartu 2026,” supported by the Ministry of Education and Research, the Erasmus+ program, and the European Solidarity Corps Agency, and co-funded by the European Union. This was not a single student’s school project that was rushed together the night before, but rather the result of several months of work that began in February. The event was organized by the young people themselves: nearly thirty…

Learning Estonian is often discussed from the perspective of adults, but young people themselves are asked much less frequently what actually motivates them to learn the language and what makes this journey worthwhile. I spoke with four young people aged 14–17 living in Tartu whose native language is not Estonian. Although their language proficiency varies, several common themes emerged from their responses. The young people consider practical necessity to be their strongest source of motivation. Proficiency in Estonian helps them get by in everyday life—that is, to communicate with others, study, find a job in the future, and opens up more opportunities. One young person said that they are learning Estonian because they want to work in Estonia in the future. Another pointed out that they want to live in Estonia and therefore consider language proficiency to be very…