Recently, Viktoriia Radchuk who is the head of Varash youth centre “Gurkit” had the opportunity to take part in a study visit to Estonia.
The main theme of the visit was open youth work and its connection to the development of entrepreneurial thinking and youth initiative. During the trip, we had the chance to get acquainted with the work of Estonian youth centers — learning how they engage young people, support creativity, foster youth initiatives, and create opportunities for self-realization.
We’d love to share more about a few particularly impressive spaces.
Keila Youth Centre (Keila Noortekeskus) is a true hub of active youth life in the city of Keila. Here, young people aged 7–26 can develop their talents and participate in creative, sports, and educational activities. A highlight of the visit was a role-playing game about entrepreneurship, which gave participants a hands-on experience of what it’s like to be a young entrepreneur and make decisions in real-life scenarios.
Lasnamäe Youth Center is a space created with young people, for young people. The center has become an important part of life in the Lasnamäe district of Tallinn, where youth aged 7–26 can grow personally, receive support, and take part in community-driven initiatives.
It’s also worth mentioning the new MONO Baas café in Tallinn, launched by mobile youth work specialists from the Tallinn Department of Education. The café operates on the principles of youth work — it’s a place where young people can meet, discuss ideas, create projects, and develop entrepreneurial skills in a relaxed atmosphere.
This trip was not only a source of inspiration but also a wonderful opportunity for experience exchange and building international connections — as youth workers from nine countries took part: Estonia, Hungary, Belgium, Iceland, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, and Italy.
More information, opportunities and interesting things on our Instagram and Facebook pages
