The Vitebsk Regional Headquarters of Student Detachments was recognized as the best in the country based on the results of the 2014 work semester

Leading positions in this area of activity have been held by the region for five years in a row. The award ceremony took place in Minsk at the State Museum of the Great Patriotic War. As noted by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the BRSM, Andrei Belyakov, it is symbolic that the best were honored precisely here, as student detachments from all over the country played an important role in the creation of the museum. And today they bear the names of the war heroes, which can be read on the walls in the "Hall of Fame". This continuity of generations, memory and respect for the heroic past is one of the main priorities of the youth organization. As well as active participation in building the future of their native Belarus. Young people prove this with real deeds, helping to build facilities, harvest crops, and put things in order on the land. And on this day, they had to harvest awards for their work.

It is gratifying to note that according to the results of the work in 2014, three of the best student teams in the country were from Vitebsk region. These include the agricultural team "Children of Yuryevich" of Vitebsk State University named after P. Masherov, which worked at the Tolochin Cannery, the pedagogical team "UFO (New Leadership Team)" of the Regional Committee of the BRSM, and the Belarusian linear construction team "Two Cities" of Polotsk State University, which worked as part of a consolidated Belarusian-Russian student team in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The head of the latter, Artem Zykov, was recognized as the best commander. The best commissars of student teams were Alexander Baranovsky (">Children of Yuryevich»), Anastasia Yelenskaya («UFO»), Nikolay Rozum («Two Cities») and Alexander Biryukov (construction squad «Dvina» named after Hero of the Soviet Union V.Еronko (PSU). The level of organization of youth employment in their free time and in the districts of Vitebsk region has significantly increased, as evidenced by the award received by the Postavy headquarters of student detachments in the nomination «Best territorial headquarters of student detachments of the district organization of the NGO «BRSM».

And, of course, the most important award: the Vitebsk Regional Student Detachment Headquarters is the leader in the country for the fifth year in a row. Commenting on another victory, the first secretary of the regional committee of the BRSM, Yulia Novikova, noted that the key to success in employing the youth of the Pridvinye region is the well-established system for organizing secondary employment in the northern region. Everyone is interested in its success: local authorities, educational institutions, employers, the BRSM, and the youth.

– Many proposals are supported at the regional leadership level. Thus, this year, for the first time in the republic, training of university students in construction specialties was organized on the basis of vocational and technical educational institutions of the Vitebsk region. Soon, new specialized detachments – medical ones – will start working. Currently, the issue of creating a sculptural composition dedicated to the student detachment movement in the region is being worked out. So, we have the main thing: experienced leaders of management bodies and educational institutions who themselves went through the student detachment school, and ideological, creative young people ready to work, – emphasized Yulia Novikova.

Someone might say with disbelief that all this is a relic of the Soviet past and has no place in the fast-paced modern life. But let us note: the youth organization is reviving those traditions that are truly needed by society. And if a student is engaged in useful work during holidays or after studies, communicates with peers, and earns money themselves, then isn't such activity worth encouraging? Last year, 70,000 young people were employed in the country, and as many were involved in volunteer activities. As Andrey Belyakov noted, the figure grows every year, and the work on organizing youth employment has received the support of the state and personally the President. The main goal is to form not only professionals but also citizens, patriots of their country. This is also the opinion of the Minister of Education Mikhail Zuravkov. He knows from personal experience that working in student detachments has a positive impact on the younger generation, helps in labor education, and the formation of leadership qualities.

– That is why we attach great importance to student work brigades and will continue to support them. This is a significant force that contributes to the restoration of historical sites and the construction of new ones, – said the minister. – I myself have extensive experience participating in the student work brigade movement: I traveled to Altai, Karelia, and worked in Belarus. I learned a lot, and even built a garage with my own hands back then. And I still do everything myself, in which active student life played an important role.

In 2015, the focus in organizing youth employment will be on forming Belarusian-Russian brigades, working at the national construction site of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant in Ostrovets, creating mobile brigades, including those going to neighboring Russia, as well as to Kazakhstan, Poland, and Italy. These issues are currently being worked out by the central committee. And, of course, young people will work on the restoration and improvement of monuments of the Great Patriotic War, preparing for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Victory.

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"