ESTEEM – YOUTH WORK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE

March 24, 2023

ESTEEM – Youth Work is Responsible for the Well-being of Young People is an innovative 24-month Erasmus+ cooperation partnership project implemented by five organizations in Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Spain.

The ESTEEM project focuses on the well-being of young people and measures that can be developed and offered in youth work to improve and strengthen their well-being. As there is no single definition of well-being, we have studied existing models and defined a model that retains elements of the Ryffi and Seligman models and, in our opinion, is best suited to youth work and, specifically, the objectives and means of this project. We do not claim that this is the only correct model, but rather consider it to be the vision of our partners, based on years of experience working with young people in youth centers, non-governmental organizations, and mental health
institutions.

The European Youth Goals define well-being and mental health as the most important aspects of a young person's life. These are fundamental areas that require thorough attention when developing up-to-date policy initiatives and youth work responses. Mental health and well-being are fundamental values of life and prerequisites for a young person's continuous development of potential, readiness to take responsibility, and care for their own life. This includes building healthy relationships, choosing education and
professions, and being an autonomous and active member of society. In addition, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted the mental health of young people. The mental health of young people (aged 15-24) significantly deteriorated in 2020-2021, and in most countries, mental health problems in this age group have doubled or more. With sufficient support and timely intervention, young people can recover from the COVID-19 crisis, but there is a risk that the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis will continue to cast shadows over young people's lives and their mental health.

news:

A Children's Day bursting with joy and youthful energy!

The theme of this year’s Child Protection Day was the question: “A young person speaks—are you listening?” The need to be seen, heard, and truly listened to became clear right from the first preparatory meeting, where young volunteers had the chance to share which topics they consider important in the daily lives of children and young people. Almost without exception, all participants highlighted today’s fast-paced lifestyle—home,

A mobile youth center will be on the move in Tartu this summer

From June 1 to September 1, the Tartu Youth Work Center is launching the MoNo bus—a youth center on wheels—as part of a pilot project, bringing youth work to young people at their everyday gathering places. It is a specially adapted van designed to provide young people with a safe and supportive environment in areas where youth work services are currently unavailable or where young people cannot easily access them on a daily basis. MoNo

Youth workers from the Tartu Youth Work Center on a study trip to Portugal

From April 19–26, youth workers from the Tartu Youth Work Center participated in a study trip to Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the Erasmus+ program, to learn about local street youth work methods, non-formal education, and ways to support young people in the NEET situation. Study trips give youth workers the opportunity to step outside their usual work environment for a moment, learn about different practices, and bring the knowledge and effective solutions they gain back to their own community (Pavlakias and

Tartu Youth Work Center Study Tour Seminar: Bringing Together Knowledge from Around the World

This spring, the staff of the Tartu Youth Work Center went on two study trips: one to Cologne, Germany, and the other to Lisbon, Portugal. On June 3, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., we will gather in the NOKK room on the second floor of the Anne Youth Center (Uus 56, Tartu) for an information seminar on this year’s study trips. We invite all youth workers, activity leaders, and interested city residents from Tartu, Tartu County, and beyond to our information seminar,

“Let’s start a green-thumbed club!”

With the arrival of spring, there’s a growing desire to be outdoors and do something interesting—something that brings joy, excitement, and sparks curiosity. At the Lillekese Youth Center, we’ve found gardening to be the perfect activity for this. We started one Wednesday by weeding the flower bed in front of the Lille House gate. We divided up the tasks on the spot—one person weeds here, another

The Voice of Youth in the Action Plan

Actively involving young people in developing the youth center’s action plan is an important step in fostering their sense of participation and responsibility. Children aged 7–11 are able to successfully express their interests and ideas when provided with a safe and supportive environment. One effective way to do this is through a monthly brainstorming session, during which young people can freely suggest activities and topics. Young people’s opinions matter and have a real impact on the life of the youth center. In addition to the idea generator, it is important to gather ongoing feedback on daily activities to understand what resonates with young people and what needs to be changed. The youth worker’s role here is to guide: to help make ideas more concrete, then link them to an action plan, and involve partners as needed. Even with younger children, simple tools such as voting, drawing, or discussion circles can be used. In a young person’s life, everything changes very quickly: what was relevant two weeks ago

Come work with us this summer – 0.5 FTE mobile youth worker

Mobile Youth Worker (0.5 FTE) For the period June 1 – August 31 Job responsibilities: establishing contact and communicating with young people on the street and in other public places; carrying out youth work activities in the mobile youth work bus; introducing opportunities to young people and supporting them in finding suitable activities; assisting youth workers at the youth center as needed. Requirements for the candidate: higher education (may be in progress); good communication and planning