I worked at the Tartu Youth Work Center (hereinafter TNTK) for a total of 1509 days.
Initially, I was supposed to take on a temporary position for four months, but after four months, I refused to leave, and fortunately, my wishes were accommodated.
Previously, I worked in a place where I was the only youth worker. The experience left me feeling that this field simply sucks and maybe it's not for me, even though my studied profession would suggest otherwise. In reality, it wasn't youth work itself that sucked, but rather the absence of what is most important to me – the people around me.
The TNTK team proved that there is a real team here, where I received immediate feedback on my ideas and where every day I felt that my work truly mattered. I had my own small team at the Lille youth center, where we offer a safe space for young people aged 12-19, and also a center-wide team, with whom I felt that everyone was supportive and giving their all.
People are accepted in the team exactly as authentically as they truly are. In my opinion, there is no condescending judgment about anyone's appearance or nature in this environment. Gossip and other slander are completely secondary, and no matter what you look like – you are still an important link in the team.
We've had the conscientious freedom to choose: organize major events, be a group leader in a youth work camp, or participate in international projects, such as the ESTEEM project in Spain.
Our entire team also visited Iceland and Malta to experience the local youth work atmosphere and gather the best ideas to incorporate into our own practices.
This diversity, the opportunity to choose between different projects and events, and to do so with people with whom there is a genuine connection, has been both a sincere and constant source of motivation for me.
Team events are held every quarter, organized by the smaller teams themselves. It is during these moments that I have seen most clearly how passionate our people really are. When the workplace creates opportunities for the team to meet outside of working hours, it makes us feel that we are truly noticed and valued.
It's also great that the opinions and feedback of team members are heard. I can genuinely and confidently express what I think about a matter or situation, and it is sincerely taken into consideration.
You might think that if everything is so wonderful, why am I leaving. I sincerely believe that people are driven by self-development and should discover new aspects of themselves, primarily to surprise themselves. I'm taking a short break from the field and trying something completely new – perhaps the world of catering and its art of service.
It has been a sincere honor, joy, and pleasure to work with the TNTK team. Here, people are cared for, a platform for continuous self-development as both an individual and a youth worker is created, and freedom to act is given. The experiences, memories, and people created at the Tartu Youth Work Center will always be in my heart.
With sincere emotion
Liisa Tammoja
The Tartu Youth Work Center team would like to thank Liisa for her contribution and dedication to the development of the Lille Youth Center.
