MINSK, 14 November (BelTA) – The student brigade movement is the most remarkable aspect of the BRSM Youth Union, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he talked to BRSM activists - members of the student brigade that took part in the renovation of the Traktor Stadium,
BelTA has learned.
Eleven mixed student construction brigades, or about 200 young people, took part in the reconstruction of the facility. The work lasted for two years.
The president noted that the experience of working in a construction team might come in handy later in life. Aleksandr Lukashenko was once also a member of a construction brigade, and he cherishes the good memories of this time, although the work was not easy. “Working in a construction team changes a student dramatically. Beyond recognition,” the head of state said.
“This is what makes you stand out. This is undeniable. And you need to take up new projects because you can handle them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president also mentioned the charity work and volunteer projects of the BRSM Youth Union, assistance to the elderly. “This is a good thing to do. You need to take on more projects like this and scale them up, as people need them. This should become the core of your activity,” the president said.
The students invited the head of state to attend the Belarusian Rally of Construction Brigades due to be held in December this year. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that meetings with construction brigade members are heartwarming for him, because they bring up memories of his student life. At the same time, the president noted that he cannot promise to attend this event: it is the end of the year and he is already very busy. “If I have time, I will be happy to drop by,” he said.
Another interesting area of work in BRSM is community patrols. Aleksandr Lukashenko upheld this initiative: “This is absolutely right. We should keep our streets safe on our own. We need to maintain and even strengthen the order that we have. I repeat: this is for you and your children, especially for children. Foreigners come to us and see that in Belarus parents can take their children to the park, let them roam around, and no one will hurt them there. This is worth a lot. This costs us a lot.”