Youth organizations in Great Britain and Belarus

All youth organizations in the UK can be divided into 3 large groups: non-
political, political and religious.

The two largest non-political youth organizations are the associations of the Boy
Scouts and the Girl Guides. The Scout Association was formed in 1908 by
General Baden Powell. His idea was to train boys in mapping, signaling,
knotting, first aid and all the skills that would arise from camping and outdoor
activities. Most important of all for a Scout was to make a promise that he would
do his best to do his duty to. The Girl Guides Association was founded in 1910.
It’s divided into three sections: Brownies (from 7.5 to 11), Guides (from 11 to
16) and Rangers (from 16 to 21). The program of training is planned to develop
intelligence and practical skills including cookery, needlework, child care. Like a
Scout a Girl Guide must be a friend to animals.

There are some other non-political organizations: the Combined Cadet Force, Sea
Cadet Corps, the Woodcraft Folk, the Youth Hostels Association, the National
Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Greenpeace.

There are several youth organizations associated with political parties. F.e., the
Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament unites young people and organizes
mass meetings, demonstrations, marches of protest, festivals.

Religious young organizations and groups aim at helping to elderly people or

working in hospitals. Such organizations pay attention not only to the study of
religious views but involve youth into such activities as music festivals and
amateur theatre.

The main goal of organizations is to build a new society, based on the principles
of co-operation, friendship, pacifism and social justice.

There are a lot of youth organizations in our country. The most wide-known
of them are: the Belarusian Patriotic Union of Youth, the Belarusian Union
of Youth, Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization, the Association of
Belarusian Scouts, the Belarusian Organizations of Falcons, the Belarusian
Patriotic Union of Youth, the Belarusian National Scout Organization, the
Association of Belarusian Guides, etc.
The most numerous youth organizations are the Belarusian Patriotic Union
of Youth and the Belarusian Union of Youth.

The BPUY was formed in 1997. It has the status of a public union. This
organization works in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of
Belarus. It should be mentioned that in conformity with Article 9 of the Law
of the republic of Belarus "On Public Associations" membership in public
organizations is allowed for children at the age of 16, so every young person
at the age of 16 can join the BPUY.

The main goal of the BPUY is to unite patriotically thinking young people
for active participation in the construction of a society of social justice and
progress. The main objectives of the organization are as follows: to express,
defend and realize the rights and legal interests of its members; to form the
world outlook, based on moral and spiritual, as well as Christian, values; to
foster patriotism as the main spiritual and social value; to express devotion
to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, to the country, its people and
its state symbols; to give assistance to every member of the organization in
his spiritual, intellectual and physical development and in realization of his
abilities and creative potential; to take part in preparation of young people
for the defense of their motherland.

The Belarusian Patriotic Union of Youth and its members accomplish their
goals and objectives in the following activities: they participate in
formation of youth policy and put it into practice; they support the
initiatives of the youth, directed at self-perfection and all-round
development of their individual abilities; they help young people to
become integrated members of society; they promote international youth
co-operation; they attract the attention of the mass media and the bodies of
state power to the problems and initiatives of the youth; they organize
conferences, meetings, lectures, exhibitions, concerts for young people;
etc.

Members of the BPUY have certain rights and duties and they can leave
the organization at their own free will.