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Pioneer movement facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Young Pioneers in Kazakh SSR
Young Pioneers at a camp in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.

A pioneer movement is a special group for children and young people. These groups were usually run by a communist party. Children often joined when they were in elementary school. They stayed until they became teenagers. After that, many would join a Young Communist League. Before the 1990s, pioneer groups from about 30 countries worked together. An international group called the International Committee of Children's and Adolescents' Movements helped them. This group was started in 1958 and was based in Budapest, Hungary.

What Are Pioneer Movements?

Pioneers pin
The symbol of the Soviet Pioneer Organization. It shows Vladimir Lenin and says Always prepared!

The first pioneer organization began in Soviet Russia in 1922. This was after the Russian Civil War (1917-1921). During the war, many Scouts fought against the Red Army. Leaders of the Komsomol (a youth group) wanted to create a new organization. This new group would teach children about communist ideas. It would also help them move away from older ideas like private ownership.

Nadezhda Krupskaya, who was Vladimir Lenin's wife, helped a lot with the pioneer movement. She wrote about it in 1922. Some former Scout leaders also helped. They suggested the name "Pioneer" and used some Scout symbols.

How Pioneer Groups Are Like and Unlike Scouts

The pioneer movement was similar to the Scout movement in many ways. Both groups taught kids to be prepared. They also encouraged sports and outdoor skills. The pioneer motto, Always prepared!, came from the Scout Motto.

A member of a pioneer group is called a Pioneer. The name comes from the idea of "pioneering" or exploring. Pioneers traditionally wore a red neckerchief. This was also inspired by the Scout uniform.

However, there were big differences. Scout groups often get money from the government but do not push political ideas. Pioneer groups, though, were fully supported by the government. They openly taught communist principles. This included working together for the community.

Joining a Pioneer Movement

Pioneer movements existed in countries where the Communist Party was in charge. They also existed in some countries where the Communist Party was a large opposition group. In countries ruled by Communist Parties, joining was officially a choice. But joining offered many benefits. So, most children usually became members.

In the Soviet Union, thousands of Young Pioneer camps and special palaces were built. These were just for Young Pioneers. They were free because the government and worker groups paid for them. Many newspapers and magazines were also made for Young Pioneers.

National pioneer organizations were often named after important party members. These leaders were seen as good examples for young communists. For example, the Soviet Union's group was named after Vladimir Lenin. Cuba's group was named after José Martí.

Today, a new effort called the Movement of the First is trying to restart a similar movement in modern Russia.

Countries with Pioneer Movements Today

Emblem of Korean Youth Corps
The symbol of the Korean Children's Union.

Pioneer movements still exist in these countries:

  • Angola: Agostinho Neto Pioneer Organization
  • Armenia: Republic of Young Pioneers and Lernamerdz Soviet Pioneers
  • Belarus: Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization
  • Belgium: Pioneers of the Workers' Party of Belgium
  • People's Republic of China: Young Pioneers of China
  • Cuba: José Martí Pioneer Organization (started in 1961)
  • Cyprus: United Democratic Youth Organisation
  • Finland: Democratic Union of Finnish Pioneers (Pinskut)
  • Czech Republic: Pionýr is a non-political group for children's free time. It is part of the IFM-SEI.
  • Laos: The Young Pioneers are part of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union.
  • Mexico: Pioneers Association "Vicente Lombardo Toledano"
  • North Korea: Young Pioneer Corps of the Korean Children's Union
  • Portugal: Portuguese Communist Youth (started in 1974)
  • Russia: Pioneers of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
  • Moldova: Pioneers of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova
  • Ukraine: Pioneers of the Communist Party of Ukraine
  • Senegal: Mouvement Nationale des Pionniers Senegalese
  • Spain: Pioneers of the Communist Party of the Basque Homelands
  • Tajikistan: King Somoni Inheritance
  • Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization (started on May 15, 1941)

Some older children could join other communist groups. However, only a small number of people usually did this. The communist parties in Russia and other countries still have pioneer groups. But fewer children join them now.

Past Pioneer Movements

Emblem of Union of Pioneers of Yugoslavia
The symbol of the Union of Pioneers of Yugoslavia.
Dimitrovist Pioneer Organization "Septemberists" Logo
The symbol of the Dimitrovist Pioneer Organization "Septemberists".

Many countries had pioneer movements in the past:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Movimiento de Pioneros para niños

  • Young Pioneer camp
  • International Falcon Movement - Socialist Education International
  • Organizations for older youth:
    • Komsomol (Soviet Union)
    • Communist Youth League of China
    • Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League (North Korea)
    • Union of Communist Youth (Romania)
    • Związek Młodzieży Polskiej (Poland)
    • Young Communist League (Cuba)
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