As befits the start of a new school year, the Lille Youth Center is kicking off the new season with a bang and an expanded selection of clubs. All clubs will meet on Fridays, and activities related to the clubs’ themes will take place throughout the week. But what are our new clubs?
We’re still continuing with the hiking club, where we don’t just talk about hiking, but also learn essential life skills and discuss health in a broader sense. In the hiking club, we discover how to
maintain our physical and mental health, become familiar with hiking gear and Estonian hiking trails, and learn about nature and environmental protection. In addition, we develop orienteering, planning, and teamwork skills, and we learn everything through hands-on experience: building a campfire, preparing food, packing a backpack, and administering first aid. And most importantly— we don’t just stick to theory; we’ll go hiking ourselves, explore Estonia
, and put our knowledge to the test in the real world!
At the Sustainability Club, we give new life to objects, food, and ideas! Together, we discover how to make more conscious and eco-friendly choices while creating something awesome ourselves. For example, we redesign, repair, and recycle clothing; we craft items from reused materials; and we explore ways to give old things a new lease on life. Food rescue is also an important part of the club—what to do with food that tends to go to waste, how to prepare delicious meals from available ingredients, and how to reduce food waste. The goal here isn’t just to talk about sustainability, but to experiment, create, repair, rescue, and build for ourselves.
In Lilles, we’re starting a life skills club where we’ll talk about everything you need to know for real life. We’ll get to know ourselves better, discover our interests and strengths, and think about how to make informed choices for our future. In the club, we’ll explore topics related to hobbies, school, and work—we’ll look into different opportunities for self-fulfillment, develop self-management, communication, and collaboration skills, and learn to plan our time and activities more effectively. We also discuss practical life skills: how to set goals, write a resume, prepare for a job interview, make informed decisions, solve everyday problems, and cope with new situations. The Life Skills Club is a place where you can experiment, learn, discover your interests, and prepare for real life—step by step, at your own pace, and together with others.
A sex education club is launching, where we’ll start with basic communication skills and learning to be considerate of others’ needs. In addition, we’ll discuss relationships, emotions, the body, boundaries, safety, and sexual health in an open and
non-judgmental atmosphere. The goal is not only to gain knowledge, but also to develop the ability to better understand ourselves, express our boundaries, be considerate of others, and make informed choices.
In the club, we discuss emotions and needs, learn to recognize the signs of supportive and healthy relationships, and identify inappropriate and harmful behavior. We focus on consent and setting and accepting personal boundaries, and we also strive to foster an understanding of the diversity of sexuality, gender, and identity. Key aspects of the club include exploring the cultural background of customs, norms, and communication styles, and using this knowledge to develop the skills that work best for each individual.
Most importantly, in the club, you can ask questions, discuss, express doubts, and share your opinions. No one is forced to share personal experiences. Together, we learn how to take care of our own well-being and treat ourselves and others with respect, care, and responsibility.
