Meet our volunteer Burak!

February 17, 2025

Hello, I am Burak! I am from Türkiye, 29 years old, and studying for a master’s degree in the humanities in Italy. In my free time, I mostly do drawings or photography with my beloved analog camera. The best advice I could give to my 12-year-old self: “Do not fear speaking up and do not let anyone else set barriers to your dreams or desires…”

Three words that describe me best: Creative, mindful, and solitary.

What inspired me to become a volunteer:

For a long time, I really wanted to do something that could touch the lives of young people in a local environment. When I was younger, I couldn’t find a place to channel my energy outside of school hours, nor did I understand what kind of skills I had. Missing these kinds of experiences in my teenage years, and having the chance to experience them with youth, was another major reason I decided to become a volunteer. Thankfully, my path crossed with beautiful Estonia and the wonderful organization of TNTK, giving me the opportunity to impact the lives of young people.

Previous volunteering: I worked as a content writer for the Istanbul-based urban-hacking platform Onaranlar Kulübü (Fixers’ Club) and participated in urban-hacking installations around Istanbul.

A typical day at the youth center: My work starts around 1 p.m. When the different age groups come to our center in Ilmatsalu, I play board games with them, help them with crafts, and draw pictures together. Every Thursday, we organize cooking clubs, where the young people are the main stars of the activity.

Favorite moment: On my first day at Ilmatsalu, I was greeted with applause and a heart-warming hug from two sisters who regularly attend our youth center. They said, “We already like Burak so much!” When I heard that, I realized I was already touching their hearts.

One message for the youth: Always pursue your desires. It’s better to experience them, even if they don’t have a perfect ending. Having regrets about not doing what you truly wanted is worse than experiencing it, even if the outcome is far from ideal.

If my life were a movie, the director would be Martin Scorsese, and the genre would probably be drama/musical.

news:

The winner of the TNTK sock design contest has been announced!

The Tartu Youth Work Center organized a sock design contest with the goal of giving young people the opportunity to put their creativity to the test and contribute to the design of new TNTK souvenirs. A total of 14 entries were submitted to the contest. The winning design was selected by a jury consisting of young people from all of our youth centers, a representative from the Tartu City Youth Council, an artist, and the director of the Tartu Youth Work Center. The winner of the contest was a 16-year-old

A New Chapter in My Journey in Youth Work

Change, Learning, and Growth at the Tartu Youth Work Center A New Beginning in a New Place A while ago, a new chapter began in my professional life. I started working at the Tartu Youth Work Center as a senior youth worker. This brought with it a new work environment, new people, and greater responsibility, but also the opportunity to view youth work from a slightly different perspective than before. Starting a new job always means adapting.

Clubs at the Lille Youth Center 2026

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 continuing with the hiking club, where we don’t just talk about hiking—we also learn essential life skills.

Youth Counselor Oksana Knjaz: “None of us has to handle everything on our own!”

Every young person has their own story, questions, and challenges. Sometimes, all it takes to move forward is for someone to help them clarify their thoughts and identify possible solutions. The youth counselors at the Tartu Youth Work Center support young people in precisely these moments, offering them the chance to talk about both everyday worries and more complex issues. Let’s meet Oksana Knjaz, a youth counselor working at our Anne House.

Design socks for the Tartu Youth Work Center!

The Tartu Youth Work Center’s sock design contest is about to begin! Design socks using the provided sock template. You can find the template here or get a paper copy from your youth worker. You can create your design by hand or digitally. Include your name, contact information, and—if you’d like—a brief explanation of your design. Submit your finished work by October 25 at the latest to helene.toomeoks@tartu.ee or give it to your youth worker.

Youth Counselor Kairi Kivaste: “My job is to listen and provide guidance, together with the young person”

There are times in a young person’s life when they don’t have to face their thoughts, worries, or questions alone. The Tartu Youth Work Center employs two youth counselors whom young people can turn to when they need someone to listen, help them make sense of a situation, and work together to find possible solutions. The youth counselors also support youth workers and help them identify and resolve

Tartu, the Youth Capital, Opens a New Playground at the Anne Youth Center

Today, October 2, at 3:00 p.m., a new playground will open in the courtyard of the Anne Youth Center (Uus 56, Tartu), providing younger visitors with more opportunities for active leisure.The playground is part of a comprehensive plan for the Anne Youth Center’s outdoor area, which is being implemented in stages. In the coming years, the plan is to develop the entire outdoor area to create a space that meets the needs of young people of all ages.