Pets as connectors in the youth center

August 5, 2024

At Tartu Youth Work Centre, pets are frequent guests: primarily Jack Russell terrier Jessa at Anneke, Pinto at Lilleke, and for example, basenji Maze at other centres. Recently, reading dog Yohanna visited us on Autovabaduse Boulevard, but young people's own pets have also visited, and during some school holidays, biologist Mirjam Zautina has introduced her exotic animals.

Several studies have confirmed the positive impact of pets on the work environment and on children and young people. For example, a pet in the workplace helps boost employees' mood and supports the creation of bonds between them (Atla, 2020). Greater engagement and dedication to work have also been observed (Hall and Mills 2019, 10). For children and young people, it is important to note that pets can contribute to their healthy development (Endenburg and van Lith, 2011). Purewal et al. (2017) have observed the positive impact of pets on the emotional, behavioral, educational, and social development of children and young people.

At the Annekese Youth Center, youth workers have noticed that Jack Russell Terrier Jessa and the center's target group have helped young people to understand boundaries more clearly, overcome fears, and improve their self-expression skills. The dog makes it easier for young people to start communicating with their peers, using the pet as a starting point for conversation or playing with it together. It does not matter whether the young people speak the same language or not, so Jessa has been a great help in integrating different nationalities. Young people often see walking their pet outdoors as a reward rather than a chore.

Sources used:

Atla, H. (2020). Positive and negative aspects of dog-friendly HR practices. [Master's thesis, Tallinn University of Technology]. Digital Collection. https://digikogu.taltech.ee/et/Item/cfc29b34-8ed9-47bb-a096-09c77531ff2f

Endenburg, N., & van Lith, H. A. (2011). The influence of animals on the development of children. The Veterinary Journal, 190(2), 208-214.

Hall, S. S., Mills, D. S. (2019). Taking Dogs Into the Office: A Novel Strategy for Promoting

Work Engagement, Commitment and Quality of Life. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6 (138). DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00138

Purewal, R., Christley, R., Kordas, K., Joinson, C., Meints, K., Gee, N., & Westgarth, C. (2017). Companion animals and child/adolescent development: A systematic review of the evidence. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(3), 234.

news:

Do digital environments bring us together or make us more lonely?

Have you ever had a day where you’ve been chatting with friends on Snapchat, Instagram, or Discord all day long, but still feel lonely in the evening? It might seem strange—how can we feel lonely when we’re connected to others almost all the time? Loneliness is a topic that’s being discussed more and more. According to the World Health Organization, about

Philosophizing with Children and Youth

Many 21st-century skills are closely linked to thinking skills. These include, for example, creative and critical thinking, as well as a collaborative and caring mindset. These skills can also be developed in youth work through philosophizing with children and young people. Philosophizing creates more space for discussion and helps participants become more skilled at articulating their opinions, listening to others, making decisions, and

The Tartu Youth Work Brigade’s anniversary summer kicks off with a parade and an evening of work brigade songs

Today, June 15, Tartu will kick off the 30th summer of the Tartu Youth Work Camp, which will bring together 238 young people this year. The opening event of this anniversary year begins at 4:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Anne Youth Center and proceeds with a parade to Town Hall Square, where the start of the work camp season will be celebrated with a speech by Mayor Urmas Klaas and the taking of the work camp oath. The opening ceremony will be followed at 7 p.m. by an evening of work camp songs in Tartu

Ukrainian Youth in Tartu: A Week That Left a Lasting Impression

In early June, from June 8–14, the Tartu Youth Work Center had the extraordinary honor and pleasure of hosting young people from Ukraine—young people whose lives have been completely turned upside down by the war. The camp was made possible thanks to financial support from the City of Tartu, and the Tartu Youth Work Center wholeheartedly took on the task of organizing the program. The week began creatively—in a stencilling workshop, the young people

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