Blog

During the last winter break, young people enjoyed a meaningful and diverse week, filled with creative crafting, digital games, and sports activities. The program, put together by youth workers, offered young people both fun and development opportunities in various fields. The opening day of the week was dedicated to free-form activities and creative pursuits. All centers offered a variety of distinctive workshops. For example, at Annelinn and Anneke, a guest offered activities where participants could craft yurt boxes, learn a bit about Buryat customs, and taste their traditional pastries. For those interested in the digital world, Wednesday was a real treat. In the youth centers for younger children, a virtual game day took place, featuring Jackbox games. For older youth, an inter-center Fortnite tournament was on the agenda. Additionally, VR glasses could be tried, which...

Spring is a time of new beginnings, and it has somehow become clear that the approach of spring and a restless spirit bring more and more young people to the youth center. Compared to the rest of the year's dark and cold period, the end of winter and beginning of spring have seen one and a half to two times more young people in the Lille youth room. However, our walls are not made of rubber, and we can only admire with a touch of envy the spacious rooms of the Anne youth center and the Lillekese children's room. As the weather warms, the sunshine and the smell of warm soil naturally draw young people to spend their free time outdoors on the lawn, but until then, we are doing our best to endure as smoothly as possible until the birdsong in the existing conditions. We also asked young people if and how temporary overcrowding affected their youth center experience…

Hello, I am Burak! I am from Türkiye, 29 years old, and studying for a master’s degree in the humanities in Italy. In my free time, I mostly do drawings or photography with my beloved analog camera. The best advice I could give to my 12-year-old self: “Do not fear speaking up and do not let anyone else set barriers to your dreams or desires…” Three words that describe me best: Creative, mindful, and solitary. What inspired me to become a volunteer: For a long time, I really wanted to do something that could touch the lives of young people...

Do you know the national dishes I mentioned in the article's title? Where do they come from, which nationalities often have these dishes on their tables, and what ingredients are used? If you don't know, I'll help: mamalyga is eaten in Ukraine, focaccia is Italian bread with various toppings, perepechi are baked by Udmurts, and ratatouille is not just the name of a rat from a Pixar cartoon, but a French dish made from eggplants, tomatoes, and zucchini. In this article, I want to emphasize the intercultural aspect of cooking. Much has already been written about the cooking club; it is, as you know, the most popular activity in the youth room. Young people learn functional reading and arithmetic, develop fine motor skills, and also learn to work in a team, take responsibility, distribute roles, involve others, and delegate...

Did you know that every youth center in Tartu has its own focus area? For example, Lille youth center focuses on health, while Ilmatsalu focuses on nature. Anne youth center's focus is on developing youth entrepreneurship. For this purpose, for example, the Tartu Youth work camp takes place every summer, where young people can gain their first work experience. To develop entrepreneurship, Anne youth center also offers a workshop called 'Idea as a Seed of Success'. But what exactly is an entrepreneurial mindset and why is it important to develop it in young people?   Entrepreneurial mindset vs. entrepreneurship Although these two words sound very similar, they are not quite the same. The concept of entrepreneurship focuses more on creating and managing businesses, the so-called economic side. Entrepreneurial mindset, however, is a more abstract word, which...

In December, a new kitchen was completed in the Lilleke youth room. Young people and youth workers had been waiting for this for a long time. The new kitchen is open and spacious, and we now have more workspace. Thanks to the new kitchen, we have been able to work with a larger group of young people in the kitchen. While previously a maximum of five young people could cook together in the kitchen, now all young people can participate in kitchen activities. As a result, the making of various baked goods has become more frequent, which means that young people enjoy being in the kitchen and feel safe developing their culinary skills there. Making muffins and cookies is especially popular. Since the kitchen and activity room now share a common space, the room offers a lot of versatility. Thus, it is possible to…

In certain circles of society, there is a common belief that activities in youth centers have only a questionable impact on young people. 16-year-old Cassandra has been visiting the Lille youth center for 4 years, while 17-year-old Kauri discovered the youth center only 4 months ago. We ask the young people themselves what they think about the youth center's activities and what impact youth work has had on their lives. 'How did you end up at the youth center? What first invited or inspired you to come?' Cassandra: I came to the Lille youth center about 4-5 years ago when a boy invited me there. At first, the place seemed boring because I didn't know anyone. But the next time, I found friends, and now I know many people. Kauri: Friends took me...

Minecraft, a word almost every child and parent in the Western world has heard. I used to always think I didn't understand this phenomenon at all. The game is so blocky, and they don't do anything there! Yet, all my acquaintances who play video games told me that if I just tried it, the game was made for my taste. Now, working in a youth center and frequently encountering Minecraft, which is by nature a sandbox game, I've started to understand the phenomenon much better and even play it myself. Its open nature and creative possibilities make it more than just a game; it's a powerful educational tool and a canvas for unlimited creativity.  …

The last month of the year is a time for summing up. We too are summarizing our youth center's year of work. The most important thing to say, and what always inspires us greatly, is that our youth center is always full of life. We welcome both children who have been familiar with us for a long time and newcomers who hear about us through friends, social media, or workshops organized in our schools. We are pleased to see young people actively participating in our center's activities, developing projects, taking initiative, and sharing their ideas. We want to tell our young people: an idea is already half the battle; we will help you implement the rest together. We have excellent opportunities to realize your ideas: smaller ones…