Eight young people from the Tartu Youth Work Center had the amazing opportunity to take part in the "Toolbox for Tomorrow" youth exchange in Latvia, which focused on digital tools, environmental development, design, and storytelling. Over 40 young people from Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Italy, and Hungary took part in the youth exchange.
On March 7, we set off from Tartu Train Station with a group of young people, heading toward Valmiera to join the “Toolbox for Tomorrow” youth exchange. Over the course of the week, we held several group discussions and created various themed posters and videos. Together, we also learned more about AI and how to use Canva. Of course, the project meeting wouldn’t have been complete without late-night get-togethers, volleyball games, karaoke, and—for some of the young people—hair dyeing. We also visited Riga and the science center located there.
Youth Exchange Week offered participants many new insights about both other people and themselves. The young people were surprised at how quickly young people from different countries began to interact with one another, became friends, and discovered shared interests. At the same time , the young people realized that they are actually braver, friendlier , and better at adapting
than they had previously thought, especially when interacting with new people.
During the meeting, the participants also learned a great deal about other cultures, and although cultures may seem very different at first glance, there are unexpected similarities between them; the young people realized that people’s daily lives are also strongly influenced by the environment and climate. Additionally, they became more aware of both the impact of social media and everyday habits. For example, they discussed water waste; the potential uses of AI applications ; and came to understand the importance of cooperation, listening to others, and a friendly attitude.
At first glance, a youth exchange might seem like a camp where you learn a little bit of this and that, but there is so much more to it than that. Young people have the opportunity to grow and notice internal changes on many different levels. In Latvia, they didn’t just learn about AI and social media, but also how they themselves react and behave in such a diverse group and while away from their home country. In addition , they received a Youthpass for participating in the youth exchange , which can be used in the future as a supplementary document when applying for a job or volunteering.
As a youth worker, I can confirm that I returned to Estonia with a group of young people who were completely different—and certainly much more open-minded. We had an incredibly exciting and educational experience. A huge thank you to Daina Roze, the main organizer of the youth exchange, for the new connections and the wonderful week!
If you’d like to learn more about the different Youthpass competencies, you can read more HERE!
Author: Liisi Soo, youth worker at the Lille Youth Center and TNTK coordinator for the youth exchange
