Street youth work specialists and practitioners gathered in Tartu.

Perhaps you have already heard us mention terms like MONO or mobile youth work or inviting youth work? This is quite likely, because in addition to open youth work, our focus for two years has been precisely inviting youth work, which is part of mobile youth work! The goal of inviting youth work is to introduce youth work opportunities to young people and to reach young people who would not otherwise come to the centers. You can read more about it here.

On November 24, the final seminar of the Erasmus+ project "Street Youth Work ABC," organized by the Tartu Youth Work Center and the Baltic Regional Fund, took place at the Tartu Comb Factory. Participants from both Estonia and Latvia discussed topics such as communicating with young people, reflection, preparation, and interventions in street youth work. 

The meeting also presented videos created within the Erasmus+ project, as well as street work methods and theoretical materials. Social workers and youth workers from Latvia were also present at the conference, gaining insight into Estonian practices and introducing their own. Together with them, the Lille youth center was also explored. 

The seminar was the final meeting of the "ABC of Street Work" project. As part of the same project, the following took place during the year Job shadowing at the Tartu Youth Work Center, where our southern neighbors came to learn about our work; a video camp in Latvia, during which four videos on street youth work were produced in collaboration between Estonians and Latvians; and several training courses and supervisions, which helped to develop the skills of youth workers and thereby promote street-based youth work in Tartu, Estonia more broadly, and Latvia. 

 The project is supported by the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps agency through the Erasmus+ program. 

news:

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The Voice of Youth in the Action Plan

Actively involving young people in developing the youth center’s action plan is an important step in fostering their sense of participation and responsibility. Children aged 7–11 are able to successfully express their interests and ideas when provided with a safe and supportive environment. One effective way to do this is through a monthly brainstorming session, during which young people can freely suggest activities and topics. Young people’s opinions matter and have a real impact on the life of the youth center. In addition to the idea generator, it is important to gather ongoing feedback on daily activities to understand what resonates with young people and what needs to be changed. The youth worker’s role here is to guide: to help make ideas more concrete, then link them to an action plan, and involve partners as needed. Even with younger children, simple tools such as voting, drawing, or discussion circles can be used. In a young person’s life, everything changes very quickly: what was relevant two weeks ago

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Come work with us this summer – 0.5 FTE mobile youth worker

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Students from Annelinna High School visited the Lille Youth Center

The Lille Youth Center, part of the Tartu Youth Work Center, offers young people a wide range of opportunities for participation and personal development. Schools are welcome to visit us for project days or to encourage their students to join our clubs. The clubs operating at the Lille Youth Center include the Hiking Club, Cooking Club, Book Club, Career Club, and the sex education club “Seks vä?”. In addition, we organize city-wide major events, where we welcome young people to actively participate in the organizing teams.

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Creativity is on the rise in the Youth Capital: Loomehüpe is returning for the third time this year

Tartu, European Youth Capital 2026, invites young people aged 14–26 to apply for the Creative Leap project, which aims to support young people’s creative potential and personal development. Eligible applicants are young people who are registered residents of Tartu and wish to develop their strengths and discover their creative potential through summer projects. Loomehüpe supports projects in the natural and exact sciences, music, art, dance, performing arts, language, literature, and technology

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Let’s celebrate the Tartu Youth Work Center’s eighth anniversary together!

The Tartu Youth Work Center will turn eight on May 2, 2026. We will celebrate the birthday together with the youth on Tuesday, May 5. The center’s director, development manager, project manager, administrative manager, executive assistant, and information specialist will visit the youth centers. Together, we’ll eat cake, play games, and do Kahoot! At Lilles and Lillekes from 3:00–3:45 p.m., at Ilmatsalu from 4:00–4:45 p.m., and at Annes and Annekes from 5:15–6:00 p.m.—come celebrate with us!

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The Tartu Work Brigade is opening its anniversary exhibition today at the Tartu City Museum!

Today, April 17 at 4 p.m., the Tartu Youth Work Brigade’s 30th anniversary exhibition will open in the courtyard of the Tartu City Museum, bringing together brigade members from different generations and telling the story of how young people’s work habits have evolved over three decades. For many young people aged 13–19, the Tartu Youth Work Brigade has been their first exposure to working life. Over the course of thirty years, thousands of young people from Tartu have participated in the brigade,

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