What are you living for, youth? Viktor Glushin spoke about projects for youth in the Vitebsk region
– Viktor Valerievich, is it difficult to work with modern youth?
– Frankly, I have never looked at this issue from such an angle. I think any job can be difficult if it doesn't bring pleasure. Working with youth is interesting – you feel the guys' interest, you meet talented people, you see certain results. All this gives strength and energy for further achievements.
And, of course, the fact that our work is a team effort helps a lot. An outstanding person alone cannot do much, which is why one of our organization's mottos is "We are a team, the Youth Union."
– What about those young people who are literally glued to the internet?
– Today, the internet has become an integral part of life not only for youth but for society as a whole. And this is absolutely normal. In the same way, cinema and television appeared at one time, there were many discussions about the inevitable disappearance of books and theater, but these fears did not materialize. So now, we cannot talk about a complete shift of youth interests to virtual reality.
Almost every young person has hobbies in real life: sports and art, volunteer and scientific activities, work in student teams, and much more. And the internet is an excellent means of information transfer, it helps to work with youth.
That is why the Vitebsk Regional and territorial organizations of the BRYM have groups in all popular social networks. We talk about our events and areas of activity, and everyone can choose what they like.
– The Vitebsk Regional Organization of the BRYM today is…
– This is almost 60,000 talented and ambitious young people who set high goals for themselves, and most importantly, achieve them. The regional organization is traditionally recognized as one of the best in Belarus, and our activists win republican and international competitions.
– "100 Ideas for Belarus" can safely be called one of the most recognizable projects of the BRSM. What will be its continuation?
– In December 2017, the regional stage of the "100 Ideas for Belarus" competition was held, based on the results of which the authors of the projects were selected, who received the right to represent the Vitebsk region in the final.
Before traveling to Minsk, the guys still have the opportunity to make adjustments to the project presentations, eliminate shortcomings pointed out by the expert commission. And the chances of getting into the winners this year have increased: the number of nominations has doubled – from ten to twenty.
An additional incentive will be the opportunity to declare themselves at the international youth competition of the CIS member states "100 Ideas for the CIS – 2018", where the winners of the final stage will be invited.
– What new things were introduced into the work in 2017?
– The organization does not stand still – this is manifested in all areas of activity. The engine of change is the youth itself, which proposes new events and projects.
Perhaps the most significant for us is the appearance of a new type of youth membership card of the BRSM, which not only confirms membership in the Youth Union but, in fact, provides real social support, as its holder automatically becomes a participant in the discount program of the Autоhelp company.
It should also be noted the new BRSM project "Belarus – a source of inspiration", which received wide support from young people. This is evidenced by the genuine interest in the " Vyshyvanka Day" events and the number of works within the framework of the "My Belarus. My Future" competition, which is currently underway.
– One of the key areas of BRSM's activity is summer employment of youth. How do you plan this work this year?
– The mechanism is clearly defined and has been repeatedly tested, so there will be no significant changes in the organization of student teams. We are already selecting facilities where student teams can work and updating the composition of labor affairs headquarters.
We aim to increase the number of young people employed abroad in service, construction, and pedagogical teams. We hope that in Belarus, we will not only continue cooperation with our permanent employers but also find new job opportunities.
– What is the main goal you set for the organization this year?
– It is set out in our charter and remains unchanged – to create conditions for the comprehensive development of youth, unlock their creative potential, and promote the development of civil society in the Republic of Belarus based on the patriotic and spiritual-moral values of the Belarusian people.
In 2018, elections to local councils of deputies will be held in the country, and preparations for the 2019 European Games will continue. I am sure that young people cannot remain on the sidelines of these significant events.
We also plan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Komsomol organization as an integral part of the history of the youth movement in Belarus.
– Do you cooperate with youth organizations outside the Republic of Belarus?
– Yes, of course. The Belarusian delegation participated in a festival in Sochi. There, we managed to hold a series of meetings with young people from Russia, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and many other countries, to compare similarities and differences between our young people, and to discuss future plans.
However, our closest cooperation has been established with our neighbors – the Smolensk Regional Public Organization of the Russian Union of Youth and the Autonomous Non-profit Organization "For the Future".
Within the framework of the signed agreements, the projects "Towards the Stars" and "Union Brotherhood" were implemented in 2017, for which we would like to express special words of gratitude to our Russian partners.
– What do you expect from 2018?
– I hope that the coming year will be even better than the previous one. Therefore, I expect new interesting tasks, youth initiatives, projects, victories, and achievements. And I want to tell the readers: believe in our youth – they are capable of a lot!