Tartu Youth Work Center (TNTK)

Tartu Youth Work Center (TNTK) is subordinate unit of department of culture in Tartu City Government what is established in May 2018. TNTK is aimed to create innovative and creative youth work environment for youngsters in Tartu to support their crowing to active, creative and happy persons. This year 2018 TNTK have 2 localities- Anne Youth Center and Lille Youth Center. From beginning of 2019 TNTK will manage also 3rd locality: Ilmatsalu Youth Center. All 3 centers are offering different leisure time activities for youngsters in Tartu. Every center have their youth workers with whom youngsters can discuss different topics, play boardgames, write and implement projects and events. Besides mentioned activities also different hobby classes and clubs are taking place in centers. All activities, events and services are free for youngsters and open for everybody. Outside of the open youth centers youh workers also are supporting youngsters with their initiatives, organizing trainings and city-wide events for youngsters (e.g. 1st of June and 1st of September festivals) Tartu Youth Work Center is headed by a director. In addition, there is a development, project and administration manager in the office who are responsible for general development and operation of whole organisation. All youth centers have separate managers and youth work specialists i.e. youth workers. They are directly responsible of open youth work activities in youth centers. TNTK have together 13 workers this year and 15 since 2019. Lille Youth Center have also EVS volunteer until summer 2019. All youth centers are functioning according to Description of services at Tartu youth centres by Tartu City Government. Target group is youngsters ages 11-19, although the main emphasis is on the ages 13-15. The centre’s open youth work room (a room which is open for visiting by all target groups outside of school hours and meeting with friends and in which the opportunities have been created for spending one’s free time in the most different ways possible) is open at least 43 weeks each year, at least 5 days per week. Each centre has its own area of focus or areas of focus. In these areas the centre: 1)is a centre of competence for youth work, i.e. an advisor to all those active in youth work; 2) is a coordinator of the joint ventures between youth centres in Tartu. Anne Youth Center is focused on youth employment, Lille Youth Center is focused on health topics and Ilmatsalu Youth Center is mainly focused on nature. Tartu Youth Work Center is leader of Tartu youth centers co-operation network and according to this TNTK have a stong network at local level. In addition, TNTK is long-term member of Association of Estonian Open Youth Centres what strengthens networking chance at national level also. Important is mention that TNTK have strong connections also with Tartu twin cities.