Competence and the development of competencies in the field of youth work: the professional background of Estonian youth workers

The field of youth work in Estonia has reached a certain level of development in its short period of existence, a level where there is legal framework for the functioning of youth work — Youth Work Act, Hobby Schools Act and other legal acts regulating the development of the field have been adopted. Cooperation bodies and networks of different youth workers' and youth work or-ganisations are functioning properly. In addition to that, several important documents have been prepared that specify the goals and development patterns of the field.