Blog

Hike on the Piusa Primeval Valley hiking trail August 18-19 ~15 km. Youth workers and hike organizers Elisabeth and Liisi, along with young participant Aliise-Gea Vares, share their memories of the hike: We started our hike from Tartu bus station. We waited for the Tartu-Võru bus, which was a little late. Since there were 16 of us, it took time to load our belongings and get on the bus, so our departure from Tartu also took longer. In addition, we found out that we wouldn't make our next or the one after that regional bus connection. When we arrived in Võru, we had to wait half an hour for our next bus, which fortunately had space, and all of us (including regular passengers) fit comfortably. We were…

Youth Summer Camp 2023 has concluded for this year, and in the last days of August, with rain falling outside, it is probably the best time to summarize this eventful summer and look back at everything. Preparations for the Youth Summer Camp began already at the end of last year, but the real momentum for the camp's preparations started in spring as the Youth Summer Camp approached. In spring, we visited various schools in Tartu, introduced the camp life to young people, and invited them to apply for the camp. We finalized agreements with employers, caterers, and accommodation providers, and naturally, the application process for young people also began. This year, the camp's opening event took place in Tartu, Tallinn, and Viljandi on the same day, June 26, and the opening event of the Tartu Youth Work Camp was assisted by…

The long and activity-filled youth work camp summer is now behind us. Traditionally, the youth work camp summer concluded with the 2023 Estonian Student Youth Work Camps gathering, held from August 14-16 at Toosikannu Holiday Center. Youth work camp participants from Tartu, Tallinn, Viljandi municipality and city, and Pärnu met at the gathering. The three-day program was packed, including both competitions and performances. Over the three days, the youth work camp participants competed in volleyball, tug-of-war, relay races, and a surprise event, as well as in a singing competition and poetry recitations, for example. Judges also evaluated the group flags made by the young people, as well as their cohesion and unity. The first day concluded with a performance by the youth band Onkel Jonkel, while on the second day, after a long day of competitions, the youth work camp participants enjoyed an energetic concert by Trad.Attack! From the gathering, Tartu earned 2nd place in the overall standings…

International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12th, and this year, the Lille team decided to organize a festival-style youth day party. At the 3-hour event, there was an opportunity to get glitter face paint, Waf soft-serve ice cream, capture fun photos in a photo booth, participate in a mocktail workshop, and join various competitive games. The aim of the party was to offer young people a free and enjoyable environment where they could enjoy colors, company, music, ice cream, and other beautiful things. Of course, the event also featured a headliner, Maian, and after an impressive balcony concert, DJ Kerttu continued to spin records. This year, the enthusiasm of young people to help organize the event was particularly noticeable. The team must admit that without the young people, this party certainly would not have turned out so well...

In June, our youth workers went on a study trip to Helsinki, Finland, focusing on street youth work and generally getting acquainted with Helsinki's youth work. In the first part of the week, Aseman Lapset provided us with street mediation training. Street mediation is a conflict resolution method based on the principles of Restorative Justice. A certain part of our team had already received this training but acknowledged that the training was a necessary reminder and also provided a lot of new information and food for thought. This conflict resolution method focuses on young people's stories, their feelings, and needs, emphasizing that everyone should be able to tell their story and try to understand the other's perspective. In the second part of the week, we visited various youth centers and services aimed at young people. For example, we got acquainted with a youth café where young people can practice being a barista…

From July 3-10, the Tartu Youth Work Center organized a youth exchange "Mental Health through Sport" (translated as "Mental Health through Sport"), which, in addition to five Estonian young people, also involved young people from Italy, Latvia, Portugal, and Belgium, and in total there were almost 60 of us!The activity days were divided by country. For example, the Estonians were responsible for the first day, dedicating it primarily to getting to know each other. Additionally, the young people introduced others to the background of anxiety, shared their experiences and tips on how to cope with it. Or, for instance, on Italy's day, participants got to try their hand at rugby, and on Portugal's day, they played tug-of-war.  Breakfast duty teams were also divided by country, which made morning awakenings even more exciting, as you never knew if you would eat breakfast…

Thanks to the "For Youth" project fund, the Tartu Youth Work Centre has built a mini-ramp for young extreme sports enthusiasts in front of the Ilmatsalu Youth Centre. It all started on November 24, 2020, when the team of Ilmatsalu Youth Centre went around Ilmatsalu as part of Youth Work Week to ask local young people spending time on the street, "What does Ilmatsalu need?". The Youth Centre compiled the thoughts and wishes of Ilmatsalu residents in a simple questionnaire. Analyzing the questionnaires and feedback revealed that providing leisure opportunities for young people on the street is a very important topic for all residents. In the summer of 2021, three young people raised the issue of shortcomings in Ilmatsalu's leisure opportunities. They dreamed of a new skate ramp. The youth worker at the time, Rando, also got 20 young people interested and involved in the project. The construction of the ramp...

For the summer, Tartu youth centers are moving from indoors to Autovabaduse Puiestee, where activities ranging from crafts to training await children and young people for a month. The youth area is open from June 29th to July 29th, every day from 2 PM to 8 PM. Days are divided thematically: entrepreneurship, health and safety, nature, youth participation, and movement. On weekends, there will be family and theater days. On Tartu City Day, June 29th, the Tartu Youth Work Center organizes several activities dedicated to the city. For example, you can contribute to the collaborative art project "My Dream Tartu", make beaded jewelry, participate in a Tartu-themed quiz, play board games, and much more. Additionally, a month-long youth bingo will begin on City Day. “The youth area program offers activities for every taste. There will be…

On June 26, young people from the Tartu Youth Work Camp gathered in Kassitoome Valley to joyfully kick off the summer camp season. At the camp's opening event in Kassitoome, the youth met their groupmates and leaders for the first time, received their employment contracts and camp shirts, and played introductory games. Afterwards, they proceeded to Town Hall Square, where the campers took an oath, sang Maasika Klaarika's song, and listened to greetings from Mayor Urmas Klaas, Head of Youth Work Helen Siska, and TNTK Director Margit Kink. The Mayor officially opened the summer camp season with a ceremonial drum roll. This summer, a total of 183 young people will work at the Tartu Youth Work Camp. This year, jobs are provided by Foxway, GoBus, Tartu Terminal, Tartu City Library, Tartu Youth Work Centre, Fudy, Wolt, Honeyberry, Marjamaa farm, Männioru farm, and…