Tour4Youth

Tour4Youth project has been such a rewarding project for the project team. We have seen amazing growth stories and successes, but also the troubles there are in employing young people in tourism and catering field. We all continue our work with national or international projects and hope all the best for all persons who contributed to the project by providing work, co-operation, or joined our project as unemployed or students.

The team visited Helsinki for the last time and wrote together final reports and discussed the outcomes. We had the opportunity to join the beautiful Finnish weather and scenery of Suomenlinna / Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and also Löyly scenery for lunch.

Have a pleasant autumn!

Tour4Youth has now concluded — what remains available for you?

We’re wrapping up the Tour4Youth project, which ran from 1 August 2023 to 31 October 2025. Its main implementation phase ran from 1 February 2024 to 31 July 2025.
Although project activities have now ended and the website is no longer updated, the free online course in career management for the tourism, hospitality and restaurant sector remains open — available until 31 October 2030.

What’s still available?
✒️A self-paced online course in English offering a certificate and 5 ECTS credits — perfect for building your career skills. https://samkmoodle.samk.fi/enrol/index.php?id=527
✒️ Open access for young people and educational institutions https://tour4youth.eu/ (site no longer updated)

Tour4Youth in numbers by 31.7.2025:
1️⃣ 102 organisations registered and provided traineeship positions
2️⃣ local matchmaking and recruitment events and targeted events engaged 572 participants of targeted 160 participants
3️⃣ 120 participants completed the online Career management course and the course will be added to www.opin.fi
4️⃣ 77 target group participants completed traineeship, of which 73 locally and 4 internationally, with average length of 7 weeks traineeship
5️⃣ at least 19 paid jobs have been achieved during Tour4Youth in Finland

For the full history and context of Tour4Youth, please visit our website or the Central Baltic project pages.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey — and to those still learning, enjoy the course!

Tour4Youth Free course: Career management in tourism, hospitality, restaurant Want a career in tourism, hospitality or restaurant? Take online course built to support career management and job-seeking skills.

Support your students' or clients' career development!
Recommend the free, flexible Career Management Course tailored for the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors.

Why recommend it?
✅ Online and self-paced
✅ Practical tools for job seeking and career planning
✅ 5 ECTS credits + skill badges
✅ In English – improves language skills
✅ Great feedback from participants

Perfect for vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, guidance counselors, or youth employment programs.

Tukea opiskelijoiden tai asiakkaiden urasuunnitteluun?
Suosittele maksutonta ja joustavaa Career Management -kurssia, joka on suunnattu matkailu-, ravintola- ja majoitusalan osaajille.

Miksi suositella?
✅ Täysin verkossa, omaan tahtiin
✅ Käytännönläheisiä työkaluja työnhakuun ja urasuunnitteluun
✅ 5 opintopistettä + osaamismerkit
✅ Englanniksi – kehittää kielitaitoa
✅ Erinomaista osallistujapalautetta

Sopii toisen asteen oppilaitoksiin, ammattikorkeakouluihin, uraohjaukseen ja nuorten työllisyyspalveluihin.

Lue lisää 👉

Free handbook: in tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sector Get yourself the free Tour4Youth online course handbook (PDF) in tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. Download today!

Felix sai kansainvälisen kokemuksen paikallisesti!
Tour4Youth-harjoittelun kautta Phoe Htet San (”Felix”) työskenteli Europe Direct Pohjois-Satakunnassa Kankaanpäässä. Hän sai arvokasta kokemusta EU-viestinnästä, tapahtumien järjestämisestä ja nuorten osallistamisesta.

Felix kiittää Tour4Youth-tiimiä ja Europe Directin Kristaa poikkeuksellisesta tuesta ja luottamuksesta. Harjoittelu antoi konkreettisia taitoja, vahvisti motivaatiota ja loi ammatillisia verkostoja EU-kentällä.

🌍 Paikallinen kokemus – globaali näkökulma!

Felix gained global experience – without leaving Finland!
Through the Tour4Youth program, Phoe Htet San (”Felix”) completed his internship at Europe Direct Pohjois-Satakunta in Kankaanpää. He developed skills in EU communications, event planning, and youth outreach.

Felix thanks the Tour4Youth team and his mentor Krista for their trust and support. The internship gave him practical skills, strong motivation, and a professional network in the EU sphere.

🌍 Local internship – global perspective!

Learning in traineeships: hands-on experience with EU related matters Take a look at the participant journeys in the Tour4Youth program and find inspiration for you own journey!

What’s it like to intern in the Finnish IT and media industry?

Casamedia talks about internships, innovation, and working in a peaceful environment like Kankaanpää

👉 Check out the article and see what they’ve learned from working with young professionals!

🔗 https://tour4youth.eu/our-tour4youth-journey-casamedia/

Haluatko tietää, miten nuorten harjoittelijoiden kanssa työskentely hyödyttää IT- ja luovia aloja?
Casamedia kertoo kokemuksistaan Tour4Youth-hankkeessa.

👉Lue artikkeli täältä
🔗 https://tour4youth.eu/our-tour4youth-journey-casamedia/

Siiri from Saimaa Vocational College Sampo took an international Tour4Youth traineeship at restaurant Håll bar & kök in Söderköping, Sweden. Read Siiri's journey in the link!

“Now I know better the way where I want to head, what are the positions where I’d be most motivated and skilled. Also, now I know better how to apply for jobs. The traineeship gave me valuable contacts with people and tools to use when looking for jobs.“

Learning in traineeships: International traineeship from Finland to Sweden Take a look at the participant journeys in the Tour4Youth program and find inspiration for you own journey!

Darba meklētāji, tiekamies Grobiņā Vakanču gadatirgū!

☘️Our intern Barsha is currently doing her internship at a peaceful spot in nature in Huittinen 🌱, and we went to visit her. She helps the owners with welcoming and hosting guests, preparing food, maintenance with cabins, and working in the garden. Barsha finds the place very welcoming and enjoys her work. It’s a perfect location for a refreshing team day away from the city, and the pond and saunas look also welcoming to the Tour4Youth team members🤩.

We wish Tero and his family, as well as Aino and Barsha, a good summer season and a rewarding internship 🌷

Rahgamo Resort offers a unique setting for memorable meetings and high-quality events. You can experience exciting moments in the middle of pure nature. Read more: https://rahgamoresort.fi/

☘️Harjoittelijamme Barsha on parhaillaan harjoittelussa Huittisissa luonnon keskellä sijaitsevalla keitaalla 🌱 ja kävimme häntä tervehtimässä. Hän muun muassa auttaa yrittäjäpariskuntaa kokousvieraiden keskitsemisessä, mökkien kuntoonlaitossa ja puutarhatöissä. Barsha kokee paikan erittäin vieraanvaraiseksi ja viihtyy työssään. Paikka onkin mitä erinomaisin virkistävälle työkykypäivälle kaupungin sykkeestä tuleville, lampi ja saunat houkuttelevat myös tiimin jäseniä.

Toivomme Terolle ja hänen perheelleen sekä Ainolle ja Barshalle hyvää kesäsesonkia ja antoisaa harjoittelua 🌷

Rahgamo Resort tarjoaa ainutlaatuiset puitteet ikimuistoisille kokouksille ja korkeatasoisille tapahtumille. Voit kokea sykähdyttäviä elämyksiä keskellä puhtainta luontoa. Lue lisää https://rahgamoresort.fi/

🌿💡 Our Tour4Youth trainee Roosa is enjoying her traineeship at Kauttuan Ruukinkartano. Her superior compliments her skills and attitude in taking up tasks and situations. Go Roosa 💪

🧁🧟 Roosa's tasks have been various from launching a summer cafe to planning its interior design & menu and from ghost tours to kitchen. Great collaboration with the team and boss and plenty of learning!

We wish Roosa a great traineeship 🌿☀️

PS! Kauttuan Ruukinkartano is a great destination for a trip: lunch, cafe, accommodation & events next to areas boutiques, tennis court, Alvar Aalto's Terrace house, beautiful Pyhäjärvi lake and much more 🍹🥗🍲🏊🚣🛌

🌿💡 Tour4Youth-harjoittelijamme Roosa nauttii harjoittelustaan Kauttuan Ruukinkartanolla. Hänen esihenkilönsä kehuu hanen taitojaan ja asennettaan tehdä ja tarttua tehtäviin. Hyvä Roosa 💪

🧁🧟 Roosan monipuoliset tehtävät ovat sisältäneet keaäkahvilan lanseerausta ja sen sisustuksen ja menun suunnittelua kuten aavekierrosten suunnittelua ja keittiötöitä. Hienoa yhteistyötä tiimin ja esihenkilön kanssa ja rutkasti oppia!

Toivotamme Roosalle upeaa harjoittelua 🌿☀️

PS! Kauttuan Ruukinkartano on upea kohde reissulle: lounas, kahvila, majoitusta & tapahtumia lähellä alueen putiikkeja, tenniskenttää, Alvar Aallon Terassitaloa, kaunista Pyhäjärveä ja paljon🍹🥗🍲🏊🚣🛌

🤹🤸 Amrita is taking her Tour4Youth traineeship in a circus and is working with e.g. children and events.

👉📖 Read Amrita's story in the link.

💯🫂 "Big thanks to Tour4Youth and Satasirkus ry! This journey gave me new skills, confidence, and unforgettable memories. I’m excited to share my experience with you all!“

Learning in traineeships: The importance of teamwork in a circus Take a look at the participant journeys in the Tour4Youth program and find inspiration for you own journey!

Anjita has been in her Tour4Youth traineeship for 2 weeks now, and 6 weeks are to come. The location is Viikin Helmi in Pori, Finland, where Anjita is taking part and learning in various restaurant and service tasks.

Anjita has enjoyed her traineeship, and says that learning while doing is the best way to get to know the people, practices and also language.

We wish Anjita all the best in her traineeship!

Final “Tour4Youth” Information Day Concludes in Kurzeme, Latvia

On 7 April 2025, an Information Day on the Tour4Youth project, supported by the Central Baltic Programme, took place at the Kuldiga Technology and Tourism Technical School. During the event, participants were introduced to the project’s objectives and the opportunities it offers to promote youth employment in the tourism, hospitality, and catering sectors.

The event welcomed more than 40 young participants, several of whom expressed a desire to actively engage in the project by using its training and internship opportunities. Attendees had the chance to:

* learn about the project and explore the online training course developed within the project, which is available to a broad audience regardless of age or prior experience;

* find out about internship placements and opportunities for professional development;

* receive practical career planning advice.

If you are interested in joining the project, please note that it is open to young people aged 15 to 24 (inclusive) who:

* are officially registered outside the capital city;

* are currently studying or planning to study in the fields of tourism, hospitality, or catering;

* would like to work in these sectors without having formal education in them;

* are currently not in education or employment.

More about the “Tour4Youth” project!

The Tour4Youth project is being implemented to promote youth employment in the tourism, hospitality, and catering sectors in rural areas of the Central Baltic Sea region. These sectors play a significant role in integrating young people into the labour market, helping them build relevant skills and pursue long-term careers. The project offers opportunities for young people to grow professionally in their chosen field, thus reducing the need to seek employment abroad or in unrelated sectors. Tour4Youth also enhances youth competitiveness by offering targeted labour market services and practical experience.

More information about the project and its opportunities is available at www.tour4youth.eu and on the website of the Kurzeme Planning Region www.kurzemesregions.lv