Open youth centres in Tartu: the present and future perspectives Raul Oreškin Head of the Department of Culture, Tartu City Government Conference “A Total Makeover – is it necessary? 22 – 23 November 2007

Number of Young People in Tartu (01/01/2007) Number of residents Aged 7-26: youths Aged 7-18: youths Number of students approx

Structure of Youth Work in Tartu

Hobby Education and Hobby Activities 3 municipal hobby schools: music, art (795 youths) 6 private hobby schools: ballet, handbell ensembles, nature activities etc. (1592 youths) 41 youth work associations: technical hobby activities, fine arts, hiking and adventure activities, video, photo and computer studies, circus etc. (1632 youths) 24 culture associations: choir and brass music, folk dancing, amateur theater (397 youths) Hobby activities involve a total of 4416 youths. Funding: EEK

Youth Sports Clubs 2 sports schools: athletics, skiing, wrestling and table tennis 56 sports clubs: sports games, martial arts, water sports, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, ballroom dancing, figure skating, disabled sports, chess, modern pentathlon, orienteering, weight-lifting, fencing (6000 youths) Sport activities involve a total of 6000 youths. Funding: EEK

Hobby Activities in Kindergartens and Schools 28 kindergartens: at least one hobby group in each; more than six hobby groups in six kindergartens 26 general education schools: approximately 300 hobby groups; 7266 participating children, of them 2725 boys and 4541 girls

Participation in Regular Activities Hobby education and hobby activities: 4416 youths Sports: 6000 youths Hobby activities in schools: 7266 youths Total: youths Reminder: there are students in schools in Tartu According to the 2007 study, approximately 60% of young people in Tartu engage in regular hobby activities, i.e youths

Youth Centres 2 municipal centres: Anne Youth Centre and Lille Maja 9 centres administered by the third sector: Urg, Loovkeskus, Koht, Öökull, Tähe, Aeg-Ruum, Koidu Centre, Lift and Skatehall

Municipal Centres Operate based on statutes approved by the city council and implement objectives provided for in the sectoral development plan. The objective of activities at Anne Youth Centre is the coordination of scientific-technological, audio-visual, adventure-educational and traffic-educational projects as well as projects developing youth enterprisingness. Lille Maja coordinates projects aimed at promoting culture and youth health, work-educational projects and projects developing youth enterprisingness.

Non-profit Centres Youth centres administered by the third sector gain funding from the city budget upon submitting an application to such effect. Non-profit youth centres have developed their own service package different from that offered at municipal centres in terms of either target group or selection of services.

Youth Centre Funding Anne Youth Centre 37% EEK (584 EEK/ m²) Non-profit centres 35% EEK (870 EEK/m²) Lille Maja 28% EEK (943 EEK/ m²) Total: EEK

Hobby Activities and Open Youth Work in Numbers Hobby activities involve a total of youths (based on capitation fee); 8366 youths (based on study results) Open centres involve 700 youths at least once a week, plus an additional 2316 youths once a month. A total of 3000 youths are involved Expenses per participant in hobby activities: 4036 EEK Expenses per participant in open youth work: 1128 EEK The City of Tartu allocates a total of approximately 52 million EEK (4% of the city budget) for youth recreational activities

Problematic Issues and Future Trends Staff turnover in the youth work sector Low inclusion of non-Estonian speaking youths Competition for time Increasing disunity Internetification of the new generation Increased communication Increasingly expensive economic environment Increasingly acute youth issues Increased demand for quality Development Plan of Culture, Sports and Youth Work in Tartu

New Courses of Action (1) Reorganization of open youth centres in the City of Tartu into centres operating based on the incubator principle, promoting youth initiative (provision of required equipment, facilities and other technical aids for the centres). Development of relevant methods so as to identify the point of view of non-participating youths. More frequent application rounds for funding for youth initiated projects. Continuous inclusion in youth work of minority and less included youths (employment of Russian speaking youth workers, language courses for youth workers etc.). Implementation of new youth work methods (youth work in the open city space, shopping centres, Web environment i.e. e-youth work). Development Plan of Culture, Sports and Youth Work in Tartu

New Courses of Action (2) Valuing of the youth worker profession through a motivating salary system, recognition for youth workers and improved working environment. Development of youth work quality indicators, implementation of the quality internal and external assessment model. Youth work on the streets, in shopping centres and other youth meeting points. Ensuring opportunities for youth work in the Web environment (e-youth centre) Ensuring all facilities for youth work meet the general health protection and safety requirements. Finding replacement facilities for youth centres currently located in basements. Renovation of Anne Youth Centre and Lille Maja. Development Plan of Culture, Sports and Youth Work in Tartu

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