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Author: Sophia Pasternak In 2022, the city of Tartu opened its doors to thousands of war refugees from Ukraine. A large portion of those arriving in Estonia were children and young people of various ages. Tartu offered refugees diverse opportunities to acquire or continue general education. Tartu youth centers also gladly welcomed the new young people. Since Ukrainian children and young people primarily started studying in schools in the Annelinn area, they also chose to visit a youth center located in that area – Anne Youth Center. Now, more than two years later, we wanted to find out the opinions of these young people who arrived from Ukraine about our center – how they like being at Anne Youth Center and how comfortable they feel here. Many young people found their way to the youth center…

From May 13 to May 19, all 13-19-year-olds registered in Tartu city have the opportunity to apply for the Tartu Youth Work Brigade groups. Applications are open for one week and can be submitted here: linnaportaal.tartu.ee. Applications for the brigade are not based on speed, and all applications submitted within the week will be given equal consideration. This summer, there are a total of 193 brigade spots available for young people. A significant change has occurred in the signing of employment contracts with brigade members. Instead of previous paper-based signing, contracts are now concluded digitally. Those accepted into the brigade must ensure they have a functional Mobile-ID, ID card, or Smart-ID to sign the employment contract. The employment contract can only be signed by the brigade member themselves! Work in the brigade is available in both urban and out-of-town groups. In out-of-town groups, tasks may include picking...

Every Wednesday, Lilleke hosts a creative club, the aim of which is to use existing materials, meaning we focus on recycling. In cooperation with youth workers, the young people of Lilleke undertook a project to give old chairs new life in the form of colorful mushrooms. The project was worked on for three months and involved several stages. Stage I First, we found the old chairs in the basement, removed the old fabric from them, and cleaned them of dust. Previously, the youth workers had purchased the necessary materials, and the young people could immediately start crafting. Then, appropriately sized padding was cut from multi-layered wadding to be used in chair making in addition to foam rubber. The activity required precision and patience. Stage II Next, the young people could choose what color fabric they…

Active young people, together with youth workers, organized an awesome 22 km hike in Otepää. The journey took place on the penultimate weekend of April, from April 20-21, by Lake Pühajärv. Like the previous summer hike with thunderstorms, this hike was also extremely memorable. This spring, on April 20-21, the third hike organized by the Tartu Youth Work Centre took place, this time by the beautiful Lake Pühajärv. The idea for the hike was proposed and planned by the active young people themselves. 15 young people participated in the activity, 7 of whom had previously hiked with the youth centre, along with 3 staff members who also enjoy spending time in nature during their free time. It can certainly be said that an incredibly cool group came together. They gathered on Saturday morning at 11:00 AM at Lilleke,…

Tartu Hansa School's 7th-9th grade Candyland ball took place on March 8th in the school auditorium, organized by student council members from 4th to 9th grade! The event's organizing team was divided into café, decorations, performer search, and social media teams. Physical preparations, such as shopping, making decorations, baking, and setting up the auditorium, began at the start of ball week. Work within our teams went smoothly, and everything was ready for the start of the ball. The organizing team itself learned a lot during the project. Key takeaways included task distribution, adherence to the schedule, and budget preparation. DJ Tammodža helped keep the mood high at the ball, Sebastian Jasinski was the main performer, and our school's teacher Marius Aave taught social dances. The first royal couple of Hansa School was elected, and a café was also open.…

A year and a half ago, two new youth centers were established under the Tartu Youth Work Center, targeting young people aged 7-11. Affectionately, the youth centers were nicknamed Anneke and Lilleke, because they are located in the very buildings where the Anne and Lille youth centers, intended for an older target group, previously operated. These affectionate names have now become the official names of the centers. We interviewed Elina and Gerda, youth workers from Anneke and Lilleke, and young people Arabella, Kaide-Ly, and Marcus, to learn more about the daily life of these youth centers.     Elina and Gerda, why are youth centers aimed at a younger target group special?  Elina: What makes youth centers for the younger age group special is their focus on creativity and movement: there are few days when they are passive, and they always try to work together…

Applications are open for two positions! Community Youth Worker (1.0 position) The tasks of the Community Youth Worker include conducting open youth work in our centers (primarily Ilmatsalu Youth Center), planning and carrying out activities for young people, and mentoring young people and supporting their initiatives! In addition to open youth work, tasks include community work and mobile youth work in environments where young people are present (urban spaces, virtual spaces). More information and application HERE! Youth Worker (0.5 position)   The tasks of the Youth Worker include conducting open youth work in our centers (primarily Anne and Lille Youth Centers), planning and carrying out activities for young people, and mentoring young people and supporting their initiatives! More information and application HERE!

Tartu Noorsootöö Keskus (Tartu Youth Work Center) is recruiting three foreign volunteers aged 18-30 within the European Solidarity Corps project. The duration of the service is 8 months. Ideally, the volunteers could start their service already in March 2024. The project covers the volunteers' travel expenses and accommodation. In addition, 271 euros of pocket money is provided. The main tasks of volunteers are daily work in open youth centers, organizing events and club activities based on their own interests. Articles written by TNTK 2023 volunteers: Manuel: Volunteering at Tartu Noorsootöö Keskus – My experience Maria: Volunteering in Estonia To apply, send your CV and motivational letter (including proposals…

Yesterday, January 31, the Ministry of Education and Research, in cooperation with the Education and Youth Board, nationally recognized outstanding individuals and organizations who significantly contributed to the youth sector in 2023. The Tartu Youth Work Camp was named a laureate in the "Youth Work Camp or Camp of the Year" category. It was highlighted that the Tartu Youth Work Camp's activities are carried out year-round by a core group consisting of young people and group leaders. Thanks to the consistency in organizing the camp, it is possible to ensure a new generation of young people interested in the camp, which in turn supports the continuation of camp traditions and the emergence of a community of young people interested in the camp who also share the camp spirit with their peers. In the Tartu Youth Work Camp, feedback from young people who participated in the camp and the development of their social skills are highly valued. Margit Kink, the director of the Tartu Youth Work Center, highlighted when accepting the award,...