Blog

The last month of the year is a time for summing up. We too are summarizing our youth center's year of work. The most important thing to say, and what always inspires us greatly, is that our youth center is always full of life. We welcome both children who have been familiar with us for a long time and newcomers who hear about us through friends, social media, or workshops organized in our schools. We are pleased to see young people actively participating in our center's activities, developing projects, taking initiative, and sharing their ideas. We want to tell our young people: an idea is already half the battle; we will help you implement the rest together. We have excellent opportunities to realize your ideas: smaller ones…

A blanket of snow has covered the ground, winter has arrived, and the thermometer shows sub-zero temperatures. Here are a few suggestions for things to do with your family this Christmas.  Be sure to watch some great Christmas movies, such as Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Eia's Christmas at Tondikaku, and Lepatriinude Christmas.  "The Christmas of the Ladybugs" can be watched completely free of charge on Jupiter (https://jupiter.err.ee/1203331/lepatriinude-joulud).   Homemade gingerbread cookies are the perfect accompaniment to the film! Tartu Christmas Town also offers a variety of activities and events worth discovering. 11.12 - Christmas workshop for young people (4:00-7:00 p.m.), where Christmas tree decorations will be made together with TNTK.   13.12 - Christmas concert by the Tähe Viis and Fadiees singing studios (6:00-7:00 p.m.), featuring Christmas songs from different countries. 14.12 - Tartu Winter Dance Day (1:00 p.m.

We have probably all encountered the stereotype at least once in our lives or heard in wider society that tattoos and piercings give an unprofessional impression and are not suitable for some job positions. Service industry positions often become a major point of contention, as company managers may fear that a service provider's or consultant's body modifications negatively affect their clients' opinion and trust in the company. Fortunately, over the last 10-15 years, we have actively started moving away from this stereotype and increasingly encounter people with different styles in various job positions. But what about youth work? What kind of example does a youth worker with tattoos and piercings set for young people? When I started working at the Tartu Youth Work Center in the summer of 2022, I had...

Have you ever felt that your thoughts are not truly heard? Or that someone nods along but doesn't really understand what you want to say? You are not alone. Often, young people's feelings and worries go unnoticed because it's thought that "it will pass" or "what worries could young people possibly have?" But your feelings are real, you are important, and your thoughts deserve to be heard. At the youth center, we are here to truly listen to you – not just during Mental Health Month or a campaign, but at any time. Come and tell your story – whether it's big or small, fun or challenging. You are not...

Youth centers for the younger target group visited the South Estonian Career Center at the beginning of November. They were able to enhance their knowledge in both Estonian and Russian. The career information specialist who led the tour introduced the young people to the services available at the center and presented various exhibits. Interactive games allowed them to test their dexterity and learn about their own strengths. A reaction time game, where youth workers competed with the young participants, proved especially popular. Feedback from the participants was very positive, and they expressed a desire to go on another excursion soon. The young people particularly enjoyed the chance to test their logic, reaction speed, and language skills, as well as to learn about creating a suitable work environment and achieving a work-life balance.

Young people already know that the city camp has become an inseparable part of school holidays, developing into a traditional event. What makes the camp special is that each time one of our five youth centers opens its doors, offering the chance to discover new places and make new friends. This gives young people the opportunity to get acquainted with new centers and peers. The city camp is an experience that always offers something new and exciting. This time, the city camp took place at the Ilmatsalu Youth Center, and the day was full of activities and excitement. To start, they collectively went on a unicorn hunt: young people formed teams and set out to find a unicorn in Ilmatsalu borough. One team's joy was immense when they managed to catch the unicorn. At the same time, another participant felt a slight...

This autumn, the Tartu Youth Work Center has undertaken a renovation of its youth rooms. First, the Ilmatsalu youth room received a new look, followed by Lille, then Anne, Lilleke, and Anneke. A week before the autumn break, the Lilleke youth center was closed, and during that time, several changes were made to the youth room. In the Lilleke youth room, the lighting was replaced, a wall was painted, furniture was rearranged, we got a new TV, and four new, distinct swings. Now we have two swings and two nest swings. The swings bring joy to both young people and staff, but in addition to the fun, the swings have become a place for creating new relationships. Young people enjoy inventing various games around the swings, thus involving other young people in the game and through shared activities...

Article author Sära-Sthella Tohv. Social professions, including youth work, mostly originated from 19th-century charitable work, often carried out by religious organizations and volunteers (Kötsi, 2017). Today, however, youth work has evolved into a science-based profession, which is much more than merely 'babysitting and playing with children'. However, much work still needs to be done both within the field and in society at large to change the perception of youth work's seriousness. Furthermore, youth workers must also take great care of themselves to avoid burnout. Jokingly, a youth worker's daily life is truly like Hunt Kriimsilm's 9 professions. In our work, we acquire the foundational education needed, studying youth work ethics, developmental psychology, counseling, pedagogy, including…

Article author Mari Krüüner. In autumn, as the days shorten and the weather turns colder, many people may experience a decline in mood and a decrease in energy. It is precisely at this time that sleep and supporting mental health become especially important. Sleep is one of the most significant factors that strongly influences our physical health, well-being, cognitive functioning, and emotional state. We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping. Sleep is essential for human survival. However, sleep only began to be studied more precisely in the last century. Insufficient sleep can cause stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. Does better sleep make us happier? Scientists have studied the impact of sleep quality and duration on young people's emotions. The authors of the study concluded that…