Estonian Youth Work Strategy 2006-2013

The Estonian Youth Work Strategy 2006-2013 is a national cross-sectoral strategy of Estonia. It draws together the strategic aims of two areas of the recent years: youth policy – a more extensive area – unified approach to all activities targeted at young people in all areas concerning their life; and youth work – a narrower area – one of the activity areas of youth policy that creates possibilities for young people at the age of 7-26 for versatile development of their personality in addition to curriculum education, jobs and family. The main activity areas of youth policy where decisions concerning youth and young people’s life are to be made are youth work, education, employment, health, culture, social policy, environment, national defence, family policy, etc. In the context of this strategy, it is important to present the generalised descriptions of the activity areas proceeding from their direct influence on youth: Youth work as the area that shapes the principles and value attitudes of youth policy, is the creation of conditions that facilitate the development of youth, enable them to be active of their own free will outside their families, curriculum education and job. The aim of employment policy as regards youth is to increase the employment rate by improving social and professional skills. Labour market determines to a great extent the educational needs of youth; the most important stage in young people’s emancipation is to ensure a stable position in the labour market. The mission of social policy is to provide equal opportunities for decent life. The aim regarding youth is the improvement of the youth’s and children’s development environment and protection of their rights. The encouragement of youth emancipation has become an important issue. The area of environment comprises activities that are aimed at increasing the environmental awareness of youth and at acquiring the principles of a saving and sustainable development. Non-formal education forms an important part of environmental education.