As in other branches of the Komsomol, the ELKNÜ facilitated the provision of ideological instruction, leisure activities, volunteer work, sporting, technical training, theatre and drama clubs, and other activities to engage youth and develop politically and socially dedicated future party members.

Throughout its existence, ELKNÜ youth volunteers engaged in projects across the Soviet Union including the Virgin Lands campaign and the construction of the Baikal–Amur Mainline.

[2] Faced with declining membership in the wake of the push for independence in the late 1980s (including a mass resignation of members in 1987), the ELKNÜ elected to withdraw itself from the Soviet Komsomol and pursue a new programme congruent with an independent Estonia in November 1989.

[3] Nevertheless, the decision of the EKP and ELKNÜ to stand against Moscow and support the move for independence enabled Estonian communists and socialists to maintain some popularity among the population, which has played a role in the post-independence Estonian political sphere.

[4] The official newspaper of the organization, published by the Central Committee (Keskkomitee) of the ELKNÜ, was Noorte Hääl.