Description
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The article looks at the situation of youth at risk of social exclusion in Estonia during the Covid-19 pandemia in 2020-2021.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Based on 22 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and 10 in-depth interviews with young people in four Estonian municipalities, it argues that the lockdowns had serious consequences for many young people who were already in a vulnerable state.
Findings: The article shows how the risks of social exclusion – staying out of education or employment – increased for the young people and that many key stakeholders were unable to help under the restriction policies, thus highlighting the damage done by Covid-19 restrictions to this group of people.
Practical implications: We will bring out four dimensions of the risks that can escalate during the crisis and suggest that during similar crises in the future, certain approaches should differ and the vulnerable groups deserve special attention.
Keywords: Youth, Social exclusion, COVID19 pandemic, schools, lockdowns
