Winter break at Tartu Youth Work Center

During the last winter break, young people enjoyed a meaningful and diverse week, filled with creative crafting, digital games, and sports activities. The program, put together by youth workers, offered young people both fun and development opportunities in various fields.

The opening day of the week was dedicated to free-form activities and creative pursuits. Very diverse workshops were available in all centers. For example, in Anne and Anneke, a guest offered activities, with whom participants could craft yurt boxes, get a glimpse into Buryat customs, and taste their traditional pastries.

For those interested in the digital world, Wednesday was a real treat. A virtual game day took place in the youth centers for younger participants, where they could play Jackbox games. For older young people, an inter-center Fortnite tournament was planned. Additionally, VR glasses were available to try, bringing the gaming experience even closer.

The highlight of the week was Thursday's winter ball, which was almost entirely organized by the young people themselves. Various workshops took place during the ball, including face painting, karaoke, and Kahoot. Young people from the younger target group participated in a unicorn dance party, where children could simply have fun and learn interesting dance steps. Older young people could dress up in party attire to enjoy performances, the selection of a prince and princess, games, and a festive dance. The evening concluded with eating cake.

The week ended on a sporty note – both a self-defense workshop for young people and competitive games organized by youth workers took place in the halls of Forselius School. The day offered both competitive moments and enjoyable time together.

And so the winter break flew by. But let us remind you that exciting and developmental activities can be found daily at our centers – come and visit!

Article: Triin Tomera

news:

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.

Read more »

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.

Read more »

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

Read more »

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.

Read more »

Summer Work Camp 2026: Friends, First Paychecks, and Experiences That Last a Lifetime

The summer of 2026 at the Tartu Youth Work Camp offered young people much more than just work experience. Feedback collected at the end of the camp clearly highlighted the things the young people valued most: new friends, their first earned paycheck, special experiences, and shared activities. New friends were the biggest win. Most often, the camp participants highlighted the opportunity to meet new

Read more »

An interactive adventure game titled “The Lost Trail” is being created at the Ilmatsalu Youth Center based on an idea from young people

What happens when you give young people the chance to think for themselves, experiment, build, and actually bring their ideas to life? An interactive adventure game called “The Lost Trail” is currently taking shape in Ilmatsalu, and local youth have been involved in its creation from start to finish. From an idea to an actual game… It all started when some young people stopped by the youth center and complained that in Ilmatsalu there wasn’t

Read more »

Tartu, the Youth Capital, Tested a Mobile Youth Work Bus 

What if, instead of waiting for young people to come to the youth center, the center went to where the young people actually are? Over the past four years, the Tartu Youth Work Center has been developing mobile youth work in Tartu’s public spaces. This summer, a mobile youth work bus (the MoNo bus) was tested for the first time to see if this kind of solution would help reach young people,

Read more »