Blog

Tartu Youth Day was a little different this year! From August 1st to 12th, a youth orienteering event took place! The focus of Youth Day was physical health, and therefore, we invited all young people to participate in the orienteering course starting on August 1st, which could be completed until August 12th (until 4:00 PM). The course was linked to various alternative opportunities and youth in Tartu, where a small task had to be completed at each point! The entire orienteering event took place on the Navicup app. On August 12th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the Lille youth center and its outdoor area transformed into a true alternative youth zone, offering opportunities to challenge oneself both physically and mentally. There were activities for those seeking calmer experiences (such as acroyoga) as well as for those looking for more extreme thrills. Delicious bites were offered by the event's…

The Tartu Youth Work Center is looking for three European Solidarity Corps volunteers for the project "3 for Enriching the Community". Service period: 24.08.2020-20.08.2021 (12 months) Location: Tartu, Estonia Volunteers: 3 Tasks: working in the youth center and organizing major events for young people Accommodation: volunteers live in a shared apartment; travel, food, and pocket money are provided. For application or additional information, contact: mariliis.maremae@raad.tartu.ee Inglise keeles: Tartu Noorsootöö Keskus (Tartu Youth Work Center) is looking for 3 ESC volunteers for upcoming project „3 for Enriching the Community“ Service dates: 24.08.2020-20.08.2021 (12 months) Location: Tartu, Estonia Number of volunteers: 3 Tasks: working in youth center daily and organizing youth festivals in Tartu Accommodation:...

Science popularizer Kolm Põrsakest and Tartu Youth Work Center are jointly organizing an inspiring program for young people this autumn called 'Future Innovators'. The program aims to boost young people's courage to experiment, curiosity, ambition, and scientific grounding. Additionally, the program supports the integration of young people with and without special needs. Põrsakesed believe that these are the values necessary for creating innovation and new knowledge. The program seeks to emphasize that anyone can become an innovator if they demonstrate sufficient persistent effort. However, since people are diverse, the challenges that need to be overcome are also varied. The program's activities support the values required for innovation and raise awareness about different special needs. 'The activities involve individuals with very diverse backgrounds, abilities, knowledge, and skills...'

Traditionally, the Tartu Youth Work Camp was opened this year with a parade and a bang. All the festivities began in the courtyard of Anne Youth Center, where groups got acquainted with each other and the Youth Work Camp Tree was planted. From there, the youth work camp participants marched to Tartu city center, to Autovabaduse puiestee, where they were greeted by Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas, who offered both motivational and admonishing words. Of course, the youth work camp oath was also read, and the traditional Youth Work Camp song "Maasika klaarikat" was sung. The opening concluded with Kolm Põrsakest (Three Little Pigs), who, in the form of a science theater, delivered three opening "bangs" for the Youth Work Camp opening! We hope that, similar to the opening, the Youth Work Camp summer will be fun, vibrant, and active! Planting and watering the Youth Work Camp tree Greetings and introductory games…

Tartu Youth Work Center moves its activities to Car-Free Avenue! In addition to their daily activity locations at Anne, Ilmatsalu, and Lille youth centers, Tartu Youth Work Center's youth workers will also be present in Tartu city center with an outdoor youth center from early July to August. We are available for young people every day from 15:00 to 19:00, and during this time, young people can participate in diverse developmental activities. All days are structured to include both more active and calmer activities and trainings. Several different partners are involved to ensure that every young person finds exactly what they need. However, the main partners are the young people themselves, who have the opportunity throughout this time (and actually also…

Mahatma Gandhi said, ''The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.'' It has been a true pleasure to work for Estonian youth as a volunteer for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) at the Tartu Youth Work Center. I have always wanted to become a prosecutor. However, since the beginning of my volunteer service, I have dreamed of my own organization dealing with the rights of children and young people. Who knows, maybe one day I will even work globally, like UNICEF. This piece of writing is not about my plans, of course. Instead, I am writing about the greatest lessons I learned while in Estonia. So, let's go! I have always enjoyed observing people. I learn the most from the people around me. I want to tell some stories that are very inspiring to me and...

After the state of emergency in the country ended, youth centers began to reopen their doors. Following the accustomed digital life, returning to almost 'normal life' offered a lot of excitement, as this time, the youth center's doors opened differently once again. Ilmatsalu Youth Center was open for only two days and a few hours during the first two weeks. However, all activities took place outdoors. Preparing to operate as an outdoor youth center required the availability of protective and cleaning supplies, the availability of equipment for outdoor use, the development of specific rules and regulations for outdoor youth centers, and also the introduction of amendments to the youth center's general house rules. It also involved thinking through and role-playing situations for when the weather is bad, considering how and in which indoor open youth room spaces activities would take place. Ilmatsalu Youth Center's first day of opening turned out to be full of heavy rain. We were ready for young people to...

Registration for Tartu Youth Work Camp groups begins on June 1 Registration for Tartu Youth Work Camp begins on June 1 and lasts until June 7. To register for Tartu Youth Work Camp, you must have an ID card and be registered as a resident of Tartu in the population register. More information about registering for groups can be found here: https://tntk.tartu.ee/tartu-noorte-toomalev/. The aim of the Tartu Youth Work Camp is to offer 13-19-year-olds the opportunity to spend their summer vacation in a developmental way and gain work experience. Participation in the work camp gives young people the opportunity to gain their first work experience in a supportive and safe environment. This year, nearly 100 young people will have the opportunity to participate in the work camp. The main tasks of the work camp participants are maintenance work, assisting in service, farm work, or event organization. In addition, various developmental group activities will take place under the guidance of a group leader. The workplaces are local governments,...

From May 25 to June 1, the Tartu Youth Work Centre is running a Children's Protection Day campaign to raise awareness of children's rights and their needs for harmonious development. The campaign's slogan is "LET A CHILD BE A CHILD" to remind people of the child's worldview and how the factors influencing it differ from those of an adult.   As part of the campaign, various video materials have been collected on the website from partners of the Tartu Youth Work Centre, which support the functioning of the child-parent relationship, offer ideas for joint activities, or otherwise provide food for thought regarding the child's world. We remind you that it is important to know your rights. At the same time, it must be remembered that other people, both big and small, around us also have the same rights that must be respected and followed.…