 |
THE GOALS OF
UKRAINIAN SCOUTING-PLAST
The Scouting movement of Ukraine,
like scouting organizations in other countries, tries to educate its young
members to be worthy human beings and good citizens of their country:
honest, industrious, and useful to the society. This is especially
important in a newly independent country, such as Ukraine, which is in
dire need of citizens with initiative, leadership skills, strength of
character, resourcefulness, high moral turpitude, and self-discipline.
People with such character traits will be most likely to contribute
towards the well-being of the emerging country and the human society, as a
whole.
Plast also endeavors to educate its members to be tolerant
of needs and desires for self expression by other peoples and to be
protective of the environment. In other words—to be not just model
citizens of their country, but also model citizens of the world-wide human
community.
These goals of Plast are transmitted to children and
young people in a myriad ways, which fore, the Plast methodology. They are
embodied in the "Three Main Duties" of a Ukrainian Scout, in the Plast
"Laws" and in the Plast "Oath"
THE THREE "MAIN DUTIES"
OF A SCOUT-PLASTUN
The three "Main Duties" of Ukrainian
Scout ("Plastun") embody the ideals of the Ukrainian Scouting
Organization; they are:
• To be faithful to God and Country—Ukraine
• To help others
• To be disciplined and obey the Scout Laws.
"FAITHFUL TO
GOD"
Plast is not a religious organization and has no
direct connection to any organized religion, or denomination. it couldn't
be, because Ukrainians belong to many religions: some are Orthodox, some
Eastern-Rite Catholic, others are Protestant, Jewish, or Moslem. Plast
does not discriminate.
Nevertheless, Plast recognizes the profound
role played in the moral and ethical life of a country by religion.
Therefore, scouts are encouraged to practice religion in their own
denomination. Plast does not tell its members to which religion to belong,
but strongly encourages its members to be active in the religion of their
choice. The key here is: the development of honesty, integrity, morality,
and ethical behavior—character traits... best developed as part of a
religious upbringing.
"FAITHFUL TO
COUNTRY"
Service to one's country is the cornerstone of
every scouting organization. Good citizenship, patriotism, community
service, ability and willingness to work for the good of community,
readiness to sacrifice for the good of society— are all qualities which
Scouting-Plast tries to inculcate in the young scouts.
At the same
time, Plast stresses the positive aspects of patriotism. It strongly
discourages hate, while stressing tolerance, brotherhood of man, universal
friendship nations, races and creeds.
In the present circumstances
of nation- building in Ukraine, the service to the community is through
leadership in service in all areas of life. Therefore Plast lays stress on
the development of individual skills, and selfless service for the sake of
building strong community structures.
"HELPING
OTHERS"
The idea of a daily "good deed" has always been
practically synonymous with the idea of Scouting. From the earliest
cub-scout experience, Plast members learn to work together, to help each
other, to act as a group. Soon they are required to perform various
services for the community and for other people, without pay or any other
compensation. That is the "Plast Way".
Over the course of Plast's
85-year history, this idea has resulted in a large number of Plast
educated individuals who have contributed enormously towards the welfare
not just of the Ukrainian communities around the world, but society in
general.
"A PLASTUN IS
DISCIPLINED AND OBEYS THE SCOUT LAW"
First of all, a
Ukrainian Scout is expected to show self discipline and to behave as a
responsible member of society. He is able to be a member of a group and
work for the good of the group. He can also lead the group, when
democratically elected to do so.
Scouts understand the mechanism of
democracy and can be expected to be good, truly outstanding citizens in a
democratic society. They know that any society is built upon laws and
therefore obey the laws. Yet, scouts are fully developed individuals, who
can and do show initiative and creativity in solving various problems of
society.
Throughout their whole life, scouts strive to obey the
Scout Laws, to the best of their ability.
THE "SCOUT LAWS" OF THE
UKRAINIAN SCOUTS
The Ukrainian Scout Laws consist of
fourteen "commandments," which describe an "ideal scout". Unlike the
religious commandments, they do not prohibit any behavior, but rather
state the traits, which describe a desirable behavior pattern in the
member. They state that a plastun is:
• Truthful,
•
Conscientious,
• Punctual,
• Frugal,
• Just and fair.
•
Friendly,
• Helpful and kind
• Controls his emotions,
•
Productive,
• Disciplined,
• Industrious,
• Cares about
health,
• Cares about beauty,
• Always of good cheer
THE OATH OF UKRAINIAN
SCOUTS
After an initial period (usually of one year
duration) of learning about Plast, its goals, and its methods, a scout is
given a choice, whether he wants to remain in the organization, or not. If
he chooses to do so, he is expected to voluntarily take the solemn Scout
Oath, during which he swears to live his life in accordance with the
"Three Main Duties" of a plastun and to obey the Scout Law. This Oath
binds the young scout for life. Even after formally leaving the scout
organization, the Oath—as a set of basic moral and ethical principles— is
expected to guide the individual, for the rest of his days.
PLASTUNY AND THE WORLD
BROTHERHOOD OF SCOUTS
Because Ukraine from 1919 to 1991
was not an independent country, the Ukrainian Scouting Organization Plast,
could not formally join the World Scouting Brotherhood —even though it
always was a true scouting organization, both in spirit and in
practice.
Ukrainian plastuny always considered themselves to be a
part of the world scouting community, even though they were
organizationally excluded from it. But, of course, "political
considerations" were never a part of the true scouting spirit!
Now,
with the advent of Ukrainian independence, Plast has been registered as
the official scouting organization of the Ukrainian state. It is happy to
invite scouts from all over the world to its camps, jamborees, and
get-togethers. It welcomes brother-scouts to its hospitable camp-fires,
with the traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and
salt.
VITAITE!
|
