This summer, Sõbralt Sõbrale once again opened the doors of its thrift stores to young people aged 15–17. This long-standing tradition helps teenagers take their first steps in the labor market, gain inspiration for the future, and contribute to a meaningful cause.
Interest in the positions was exceptionally high this spring—during the recruitment round in early April, a staggering 645 young people submitted applications in just a single week. From June to the beginning of September, we are providing summer employment to 38 youth, making this our largest cohort to date.
Work with a Deeper Meaning
Sõbralt Sõbrale is not just a chain of lifestyle thrift stores; it is a Christian charity organization. Alongside promoting a circular economy, we provide mental health counseling and work closely with churches to support families and children facing difficult circumstances.
This social impact is precisely what makes summer employment here so special for young people:
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Purposeful impact: Every purchase and donation made in the store benefits both the environment and people in need.
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Hands-on contribution: The youth gain the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to spreading the message of reuse and helping others.
From Training to Hands-On Circular Economy
To ensure the summer work experience is as smooth and educational as possible, the youth attend a comprehensive customer service and marketing training day before starting their roles. The training introduces them to our organization’s charitable initiatives and teaches them the fundamentals of customer service required for the job ahead.
What do our summer youth learn and do?
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Behind the scenes of the circular economy: The youth gain firsthand knowledge of the differences between reuse (korduskasutus) and upcycling (uuskasutus), learning which donated items are suitable for a second life.
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Dynamic retail work: The days fly by because the tasks are highly varied. Responsibilities include customer interaction at the cash register and on the sales floor, sorting and pricing inventory, and creating eye-catching merchandise displays.
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Professional life skills: The application process itself offered valuable experience. The youth learned to highlight their strengths briefly and accurately and participated in job interviews involving practical tasks.
Feedback from Youth Speaks for Itself
Feedback from previous years demonstrates that the Sõbralt Sõbrale teams provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for young workers:
“The best experience I had all summer!” — Summer youth employee from Pärnu
“I loved working there. There were so many interesting products, great variety, and I gained highly useful experience.” — Summer youth employee from Rakvere
“Thank you to the store manager and team in Keila for such a warm welcome. You are awesome and so caring!” — Summer youth employee from Keila
We would like to thank everyone who applied, and we wish our new summer team members an exciting, rewarding, and deeply meaningful summer!
