The city of Tartu recognized the most outstanding youth workers of 2022

January 18, 2023

Yesterday, January 17, an event recognizing contributors to Tartu's youth sector took place at the Alexela creative stage, where the past year's achievements were reviewed and the most notable ones were honored.

Elen Hermanson, director of the Ilmatsalu Youth Center at the Tartu Youth Work Center, was nominated for Youth Worker of the Year. Elen Hermanson was nominated for Youth Worker of the Year. Elen has stood out in 2022 as an extremely dedicated, conscientious, and development-oriented youth worker. She easily establishes good contact and trusting relationships with young people both on the street and in the open youth center. She is particularly passionate about working with at-risk youth. Under her leadership, mobile youth work has been developed in Tartu, she has initiated and led a network of specialists working with at-risk youth, and she has established good working relationships with various organizations. In the fall of 2022, he also took on the challenge of managing the Ilmatsalu Youth Center, which he has done excellently so far.

The Young Achiever of the Year award went to Marie Gordeeva, a prominent volunteer at the Tartu Youth Work Center and ambassador for Tartu 2024 Extended. Marie Gordeeva was selected as Young Achiever of the Year. Marie has contributed as a volunteer to all major events organized by the Tartu Youth Work Center in 2022, and she has also been actively involved in the TNTK Culture Club and international projects. Environmental protection is a topic close to Marie's heart, and she has also written about it in the youth initiative project "Noored roheliseks" (Youth for Green). In addition to her remarkable contribution to volunteer work, Marie is also successful in school and extracurricular activities. Marie is grateful for every opportunity she gets to participate. She is good at setting goals for her participation and reflecting on it afterwards. It is important for her to know what these experiences give her and who and how she helps with her contribution.

However, the Youth-Friendly Project of the Year award went to In the spring of 2022, the city government decided to close the existing children's centers and merge them with the Tartu Youth Work Center as of September 1. In the spring of 2022, the city government decided to close the existing children's centers and merge them with the Tartu Youth Work Center as of September 1. In just four months, the service has gotten off to a good start, and thanks to the excellent youth workers, 250 unique young people have visited the Anne youth center for younger youth alone.
Similar to the services provided by the previous children's centers, youth workers help children with their studies, organize fun activities, and provide hot meals. Although the service is still new and developing, the youth workers have already managed to create a pleasant and open environment where children feel comfortable.

We heartily congratulate Elen and Marie and are grateful for highlighting the youth centers for our younger target group!

Photographer: Marleen Kovalik

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