Anne Youth Center is also accessible to young people with mobility impairments

February 17, 2020

Since February, the Anne Youth Centre of the Tartu Youth Work Centre has been accessible and user-friendly for young people with mobility impairments.

Last year, Tartu Youth Work Center began implementing a program of innovative youth work models to prevent social exclusion among young people. The goal of the innovation program is to better consider the needs of various user groups and to integrate teenagers with visual, hearing, and mobility impairments in Tartu into youth center activities. As part of the innovation program, with the help of the City of Tartu, a ramp and room adaptations have been completed at the Anne Youth Center, making the building and its premises user-friendly for young people with mobility impairments as well.

The newly completed study "Participation of young people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments in youth work in Tartu" provides input for developing an action plan that would increase participation opportunities for young people with disabilities in youth work. Young people belonging to the target group and specialists working with youth are also involved in drafting the action plan.

The activities of the Anne Youth Center are aimed at young people aged 11-19. The center is open Monday through Saturday and once a month on Sunday. Twice a week, there are hobby groups: an entrepreneurship club and a cooking club. In addition, daily activities focus on developing young people's motor skills. Young people's social skills are developed through peer-to-peer activities, discussion groups, and board game nights. All activities are funded by the Tartu City Government and are free of charge for participants.

The implementation of the Innovation Program's activities is funded within the framework of the ESF co-financed program approved by the Minister of Education and Research and implemented by the Estonian Youth Work Center, titled "Inclusion of Youth at Risk of Exclusion and Improving Youth Employability".

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