Blog

Hey, dear young people and gaming enthusiasts! The last month at Lille Youth Center has been like a big spring cleaning – old consoles were dusted off and broken controllers were fixed (thanks, Alzgamer Tartu!). We even had to put locks on so no one could "accidentally" download or upload everything they saw (haha, because let's be honest, some just can't accept being 'L bozos' in some games). Everything that didn't work was thrown out, and young people were put to work – whoever managed to get a game working that our youth workers couldn't, won themselves a fancy McDonald's meal! One of our main directions right now is towards team games! Yes, you read that right –…

At the beginning of autumn, many people's school and work obligations restart at full speed, and getting back into a routine takes time. If stress begins to accumulate excessively in daily life, hobbies and a change of environment are good helpers. The leaves will soon turn colorful, and this autumn is warm. Doesn't that sound like an ideal time for a walk or a hike in the forest? Being in nature is a well-known stress and anxiety reliever. Rich green landscapes and a quiet atmosphere offer peace of mind, which helps organize thoughts and calm the nervous system. Hiking provides an opportunity to be away from everyday worries, offering time for self-reflection and mental recharging. Wandering or hiking in the forest can help one see life from a different perspective. Nature takes its course,…

For the second year in a row, we went mushroom picking in the forest with the young people from Annekese. This time, Estonian- and Russian-speaking young people, as well as young people with Ukrainian and Iranian roots from Tartu, picked mushrooms. There were lots of emotions, and forest spirits too! Going to the forest turned out to be quite an adventure for the city kids, and there were challenges too.  A mushroom hunt with young people requires proper preparation, as the young people (and their parents) need to know where they are going, how long they will be gone, what to wear, and what to pack in their backpacks. On both occasions, we chose a forest in Vara as our destination, which can be easily reached by county bus. Upon arrival, we discuss the principles of moving around in the forest and picking mushrooms: I move in such a way that the rest of the group is visible, alone...

👀 Do you dream of gaining knowledge in the media world or wish to create your own podcast someday? Then the Tartu Youth Work Centre's podcast "Noorteaken" media club is just for you!💭 The media club offers practical and inspiring workshops, sharing of experiences, and collaboration opportunities that help you bring your creative ideas to life. You will have the opportunity to delve into the entire podcast creation process – from developing ideas and planning content to recording, editing, and publishing.🗓️ We meet every other Thursday from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM on the 2nd floor of Anne Youth Centre. In addition to regular meetings, we occasionally organise extra sessions dedicated specifically to recording episodes.💥 Participants who have attended at least five out of seven times will receive a diploma and an invitation to the Tartu Youth Work Centre's…

The start of the school year can be exciting, but also a little anxiety-inducing. New subjects, new teachers, and perhaps new classmates – it's worth preparing well for all of this. Here are seven ideas on how to make the upcoming school year as successful and pleasant as possible for yourself. Set goals for yourself. Before you go to school, think about what you want to achieve this year. This could be related to academic results, hobbies, or self-development. Setting goals helps you focus and gives you motivation to strive. It's also a good idea to create an attractive vision board with different pictures to glance at from time to time. Take time to adapt and rest. The first few weeks at school can be intense, as you need to adapt…

"Goodmen Freddy and Gabriel, who gained fame on TikTok, are two 23-year-old eccentrics enjoying a midlife crisis, who feed on adrenaline and other oddities instead of food. If something can be done in an unconventional way, that's how they do it" – this is how the hosts of Wisdom Day x Science?fest describe themselves, who will entertain event visitors throughout the day. "Wisdom Day is like celebrating the New Year for brain activity. Summer relaxation comes to a definitive end, and students, along with their parents, once again dedicate themselves to systematically acquiring worldly wisdom," said Kuldar Leis, CEO of Tartu 2024. What will headliner OLLIE bring to Wisdom Day x Science?fest? "Plenty of rock. It's time to blast away the summer distraction and lifestyle from young people and instill new energy for school," comments OLLIE...

Triinu Laar Mailis Saealle Kevin-Kristjan Koppel Berit Aren While Tartu was hit by heavy rain and the summer water level of the Emajõgi River reached autumn levels, the Vormsi group of the Tartu Youth Work Camp tidied up the Borbby-Kerslinina hiking trails in sunny Vormsi and got acquainted with island life. The youth work camp group stayed on the island for nine days. As it was a science youth work camp group, on the second day, they investigated springs and Lake Prästvike. Jaanus Terasmaa, Professor of Ecohydrology at Tallinn University, gave an overview of the formation and types of springs and introduced the websites www.allikad.info and www.veestik.info. Under the guidance of Maarja Koppelmaa and Triinu Laar, observations were made at Suurallikas, Lubjaallikas, and Raviallikas springs, and Lake Prästvike, and the data was added to the aforementioned websites. After completing the Suurallikas hiking trail, they went to the Jaaniste family at Mõisaholm, where they worked…

Young people often think that when they come to the youth center, a multi-hour program of activities planned by youth workers awaits them. However, upon arrival, it turns out that the youth center is primarily an opportunity, not a set activity, and young people often need to find things to do for themselves. Although there is at least one central activity planned by youth workers every day at the youth center, such as cooking, outdoor activities, drawing, etc., this activity usually does not take up the entire opening hours of the youth center. Young people have several hours to fill as they see fit. Young people often wander around the youth room and say they are bored; as a result, we have always directed them to the board game shelves, and sometimes they do find...

Almost a year ago, some of our team had the opportunity to go on a study trip to Iceland through Erasmus+ funding. This gave us the opportunity to visit local youth centers in the capital, Reykjavik. We got to meet their staff, see what their youth centers look like, and learn about youth work there. One of the main things that caught most of our attention was that the interior of these centers was very homely and creative – there were lots of pictures, drawings, paintings, and graffiti on the walls, all made by the young people themselves. This made us, especially the Lille team, think about whether and how we could bring more of the young people's own creativity into our youth center. So far, we have...