The role of public organizations in civic-patriotic education was discussed at an off-site meeting of the regional council in Ushachi

Ushachi district was not chosen by chance for discussing such an important topic, noted the head of the deputy corps, Vladimir Terentyev, in his opening speech. This is a partisan region, a heroic land watered with blood, the homeland of a pleiad of famous writers and poets, many of whose works are dedicated to the feat of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War. The district properly cares for the memory of those who died for the Fatherland and glorified it with peaceful labor. Evidence of this is significant patriotic events and the daily educational work carried out among different segments of the population, characterized by a balanced approach.

Love for the Motherland means concrete deeds for the good of the Motherland – this was the leitmotif of the speeches at the off-site meeting. Welcoming the participants, the chairman of the district executive committee, Vladimir Avdoshko, assured that Ushachi district will continue to make a worthy contribution to building a strong and prosperous Belarus.

The activities of the most influential public associations in the Vitebsk region in patriotic education were analyzed by Petr Gnutenko, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee.

One of the first in the republic, in the early 2000s, the Vitebsk Regional Coordination Council of two political parties and 18 public associations was created. Its main efforts are aimed at civic-patriotic education, primarily for youth.

The work of the BRSM, as well as the veterans' organization, which has many interesting and socially significant events to its credit, has become a good example. Despite its relatively small number, the organization of the Belarusian Union of War Veterans in Afghanistan is active, especially the structural divisions in Vitebsk, Novopolotsk, Lepel and Liozno districts.

Organizations of the Belarusian Peace Fund, the Belarusian Red Cross Society, and the Belarusian Union of Women make a definite contribution. The deputy corps, the regional trade union association, and the regional organization of the Republican Public Association "Belaya Rus" have great potential in civic and patriotic education in the production sphere. There are many examples of fruitful cooperation between authorities and public associations. At the same time, the latter lack initiative, modern approaches, and creativity in educational work. Expanding ranks and strengthening the active membership remain common tasks.

The First Secretary of the Regional Committee of the BRSM, Viktor Glushin, shared the experience of his organization in implementing youth projects such as "Flowers of the Great Victory" (dedicated to veterans), "Labor is Cool" (student construction teams movement), "Kind Heart" (volunteer movement), "Vyshyvanka" (preservation of national traditions), and others.

The Chairperson of the Ushachi District Council of Deputies and Deputy Chairperson of one of the best district organizations of the Republican Public Association "Belaya Rus" in the Vitebsk region, Olga Zakharchenko, spoke about the allies of the local government in implementing the state's ideological policy. 96.7% of employed individuals are trade union members, and 14.5% are members of "Belaya Rus". 23.9% of young people aged 14 to 31 are members of the BRSM, which is above the regional average. The Belarusian Peace Fund organization has the best performance among district organizations in the region and ranks 2nd in the country. Much is being done for patriotic education in cultural and educational institutions with the participation of veteran activists.

Participants of the meeting visited the under-construction sports and recreation complex and the Museum of People's Glory named after Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lobanok in Ushachi, familiarized themselves with the experience of patriotic education at Orekhovskaya Secondary School, and laid flowers at the "Breakthrough" memorial complex. The meeting in Ushachi will serve as an occasion for district and city Councils of Deputies to analyze the participation of their structures and regional public organizations in the civic and patriotic education of the population.

Galina Shpakovskaya. Photos by Anton Stepanishchev. "Vitebskiye vesti".