Blog

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…

Every Wednesday at 3 p.m., Anne's younger target group center hosts activities for the Good Mood Club. At least once a month, we conduct meditation sessions, during which young people learn to relax and switch off for a moment. Sometimes young people are confused about what exactly this activity entails. Indeed, it is difficult to put into words, and expressions that are easily understandable to multilingual young people aged 7-11 must be chosen carefully. The easiest way to explain it has been through the concept of minutes of silence, as young people have more experience with this in school.  The Headspace animated videos have been a great help, as they explain in a simple and science-based way how to train your mindfulness, why it is beneficial for us, and what results to expect. Young people have been guided...

The autumn school holiday is just around the corner! During the holiday week, taking place from October 21st to 27th, our centres are packed with various awesome opportunities just for you! P.S. There's a link below the article where you can find more information. All activities and events are free for you! 1. Participate in the e-sports day at Anne and Lille youth centres on Monday! In short: an awesome Xbox gaming day. Games include Jackbox (various cool and funny games to play together with your phone!), Multiversus, and Just Dance (an opportunity to move around playfully, especially fun to dance with friends, new young people, or even youth workers). Just come along and have a great time! 😉 2. Come and have a water fight with the youth centre on Tuesday! Yep, you read that right!…

Voting for Tartu's participatory budget has begun! Support young people and vote for idea #6 – give them more opportunities to spend their free time in diverse ways and develop! Why support this particular idea? At Järve tee 8, there is an interest and youth center where we want to create a true community center with an outdoor area offering diverse opportunities! Imagine a pleasant area where people of different ages can spend time together, actively relax, play, and participate in community events. Pretty great, right? What are we creating? - A playground with exciting swings for children and young people. - An outdoor gym to stay in shape in the fresh air. - A low ropes course that tests skills and courage. - A disc golf practice area to develop accuracy and enjoy nature. - A basketball court. - Seating areas…

Indian summer is coming to an end, and the weather is getting colder, leaves are falling, and the sun gradually sets earlier, marking the arrival of autumn. With the onset of autumn, young people have already taken the initiative to create various autumn decorations; decorating candles has been the biggest hit, along with making autumn-themed window decorations. Within the cooking club, young people have made delicious warm baked goods, such as Kinder cookies, which are ideal for cold weather. Autumn also brings several important dates in the Estonian folk calendar, marking the beginning of the cold and dark season. One of these is St. Michael's Day, celebrated on September 29th. In the past, this was a time for parties and gatherings, as the grazing season ended then. Its traditions include...