Latvian delegation explores youth work in Tartu county and surrounding rural areas

The experience exchange trip aimed to introduce activities and initiatives implemented in Tartu County to promote youth welfare, health, education, and employment opportunities. During the visit, both county-level events and activities of specific municipalities and their NGOs were discussed and demonstrated, such as in Elva municipality (146,000 residents) and the rural municipality of Nõo (45,000 residents).

On the first day, the Tartu County Association of Municipalities shared insights on the youth situation in the county and the national strategies at both the state and local levels, including the Estonian Education Strategy 2021-2035, the Estonian Youth Sector Strategy 2021-2035, and the Tartu County Development Strategy 2040. Current issues highlighted included the low willingness of young people to remain in their places of residence, especially in rural municipalities; weak entrepreneurial and initiative spirit to achieve something locally; and the lack of a sustainable and systematic approach to the diverse development of the youth sector.

Participants had the opportunity to visit the Tartu branch of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (Eesti Töötukassa), equipped with modern digital solutions. The fund operates as an independent public institution, involving trade unions, employers, and the government. Its main budget comes from unemployment insurance contributions—1.6% from employees and 0.8% from employers (for example, the 2024 fund budget is 925 million EUR). It also implements several activities aimed at promoting youth employment, such as organizing five-month internships with stipends and providing career counselling. "The Eesti Töötukassa Tartu branch is located in the shopping centre square near the bus station, ensuring access for young people and other residents living in different Tartu County municipalities," shared D. Ponomarjova, project manager of RuralYouthFuture.

The second day was dedicated to exploring activities in Elva and Nõo municipalities. Several organizations working with children and youth have been established in Elva municipality, including the Elva Interest Education and Youth Center, the "Perepesa" preschool children's and parents' learning center, and the Elva Family Center. The focus of Elva's youth strategy is on sports and health-promoting activities to activate local youth, such as the construction of the Elva Sports Center and the regular organization of sports events.

Additionally, the Elva municipality implements a youth volunteer program "Young Creators," where young people have the opportunity to gain knowledge and immediately apply it in practice by collaborating with local organizations, including creating and managing social media content (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.), blogs, and podcasts, as well as organizing events in the municipality (safety issues, marketing, etc.).

In contrast, the Nõo municipality actively organizes interest education activities based on the interests of local youth, who make up 23% of all residents. One of the municipality's best practices is the "LOHVIK" café in a trailer, employing 12-18-year-olds to learn practical skills during the summer, including entrepreneurship and social media skills ("Experience Learning Academy").

"Estonia's approach to youth policy and work implementation is similar to Latvia's. However, it is interesting that the Estonian Youth Work Act defines youth age from 7 to 26 years, while in Latvia it is 13 to 25 years. It was also noteworthy to see that the Elva municipality developed and implemented an ESF project based on Latvia's experience in the Youth Guarantee program, particularly the idea of the 'Proti un Dari' project, to support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) – ESF PROJECT FOR SUPPORTING NEET-YOUTH IN ELVA MUNICIPALITY 2021-2023," added D. Ponomarjova.
 

More about project:
Webpage: https://www.interregeurope.eu/ruralyouthfuture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/93205221/admin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ruralyouth_eu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruralyouthfutureproject