Former SOS child educates young people in Estonia

Twenty-six-year-old Meelis, a former SOS child, who currently employs 25 people, is back at SOS Youth Facility Keila (Estonia), this time as an youth leader, and he believes he can help young people by telling them about problems and his experience. "I want to offer a better future for my children than my parents could offer me," says Meelis.

Meelis graduated from university in 2005 and set up a real estate company . "In 2007 I heard that new youth leaders were needed and they asked if I would like to apply for the job. I thought: "why not?” and "here I am!", he says. He got through the application process and careful consideration was given as to whether it was a good idea to hire someone who had himself lived in an SOS Children's Village. "He was simply the best candidate for the job, but we thought about it carefully and I am glad he was selected," says youth facility leader Marika Aus. The man himself says that this is his dream job. "It is a job for the soul. Real estate is for a living, but this is for my soul. At the moment, the economy is suffering, but I am active in many fields - here in the youth facility, the real estate company, I am also involved in an electricity company, as well as other things."

Based on his experience of private business, he can use the communication skills he has learnt to prevent problems regarding authority. "The young people here know me, but they were small when I was here. I have never have problems getting them to listen to me. He also believes that since he grew up in the SOS Children's Village, he can understand the young people better than other people when it comes to certain matters. "When I come to work the young people come to sit with me and then we talk. Sometimes they really take advantage of it - we talk until it is really late. I think it is easier for them to understand the requirements and me. When talking about problems and my own experience, I hope it's clearer and they think more about the issues." At the same time, it can also be difficult to work precisely because he does understand them that well. "It actually works both ways - sometimes it is easier and sometimes it is more difficult to work with them," he says. "There are things that can be tricky - as I have the same, difficult background, I know where they are coming from and I understand their feelings and their fears about the future. Often they do not know how to interpret their fears and that is when there are behavioural issues."

When he looks at his experience, he thinks that these problems can be overcome. Targets are the key, he believes. "I have always thought that I am not a good businessman. I am too compassionate and too amenable. I just wanted to live a better life than my parents did and someday I want to offer a better future to my children than my parents could offer me. That is the key - I have set myself a target." Meelis says that although the work at the SOS Youth Facility is a dream job, he did not plan to go into this area of work, which is why he cannot say much about the future. "I have never thought long ahead, because the world and life change so quickly around me. I have some things I want to achieve, but generally I do not think that much ahead. Five years ago I had no idea I would be working here. I have a plan to go into politics one day. Maybe in five years it will be my new challenge."

To read more about Meelis click here