Cuban children, adolescents and young people are the future of the Revolution

April 4 is the 64th anniversary of the OPJM and the 63rd anniversary of the UJC

Photos by Vladimir Molina

By Katherin Hormigó Rubio, translated from the Spanish

The Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas (UJC) and the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM) are two central organizations in Cuban history, created to promote education, culture, and revolutionary values ​​among the younger generations. They have played a crucial role in the ideological and social development of Cuban youth.

On April 4, 1961, the Union of Rebel Pioneers was founded with the motto "We Will Win!" The following year, it became the Union of Cuban Pioneers (UPC), whose motto became "Always Ready!"

Originally, the UPC was a selective organization open only to children who wished to join provided they met certain requirements. However, in 1966, it was decided to make it a mass organization.

"If we want to express how we want our children to be, we must say with all the heart of passionate revolutionaries: we want them to be like Che!" said Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz on October 18, 1967, at a solemn vigil in memory of Commander Ernesto Che Guevara, who fell in Bolivia.

Months later, in 1968, the Union of Cuban Pioneers decided in a National Plenary Session to change its motto from "Pioneers Always Ready" to "Pioneers for Communism: We Will Be Like Che!"

At the Third Congress of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), held in April 1977, it was decided to transform the UPC into the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM) and modify its structure and operation, expanding its ranks through to ninth grade. This significantly increased its membership.

With the goal of developing in children and adolescents an interest in studying, a sense of social responsibility, love of homeland, and solidarity with the peoples of the world, the organization promotes positive work habits, pride in Cuban history, and honouring our heroes and martyrs.

Within the OPJM, the pioneers are grouped by age: the Moncadistas , who are in first through third grade and are identified by the blue scarf; those in the first José Martí level, who are in fourth through sixth grade and wear a red scarf; and those in the second José Martí level , who are adolescents in seventh through ninth grade.

In 1986, the 25th Anniversary Pioneer Assembly was held, where members pointed out a series of deficiencies in the teaching-educational process and in the organization's work. Fidel hailed these criticisms as an important contribution to the Process of Rectifying Errors and a demonstration of the maturity and critical spirit of Cuban pioneers, which led to the development of the Pioneer Congresses.

The first of these congresses was held during the Special Period, on October 30 and 31 and November 1, 1991, under the slogan "We Are Happy Here." The topics covered included studies, the meaning of the motto, pioneering activities, and the functioning of the organization.

The UJC was founded on April 4, 1962, in a context of social transformation following the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Our Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro, repeatedly emphasized the importance of youth in the revolutionary process, stating that "revolution is an act of love, and love is the force that moves young people." With this premise, the UJC became a space where young people could organize and actively participate in building a more just society.

Following the example of Mella, Camilo, and Che Guevara, this organization has been instrumental in mobilizing Cuban youth toward the country's social and economic development. Its activities range from political education to the promotion of culture and sports.

The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, has emphasized that "youth are the present and future of the nation," thus underscoring the importance of the UJC in the training of leaders and in building a prosperous and sustainable Cuba.

Cuban children, adolescents, and young people have forged an admirable history of work in educating the next generation. The many activities carried out throughout the history of these organizations have contributed to shaping them into men and women of the future, who will bear the responsibility of continuing the work of the Revolution.

Today, as we commemorate the 64th anniversary of the OPJM and the 63rd anniversary of the UJC, the call to be Forever Young guides these new generations in their commitment to safeguarding the Socialist Homeland.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC