……FFeeaattuurree NNeewwss…… TThhee BBeetthhlleehheemm FFllaammee,, aa ssyymmbbooll ooff lloovvee aanndd ppeeaaccee,, aarrrriivveedd iinn LLuuttsskk..

Annually the Flame is carried from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, by various world scouting organizations to every country and city in the world. To Ukraine it was carried by the members of Plast Ukrainian

Organization. A special ceremony was held on the 3rd of January 2010 at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Already for 11 years the Plast members bring the Flame of Peace to all mayor cites in the country and it is also taken to hospitals and orphanages. The Flame is usually kept burning in churches through the feast of the Epiphany (January 19, according to the Julian calendar).

……FFeeaattuurree OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn…… PPllaasstt –– NNaattiioonnaall SSccoouuttiinngg OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn ooff UUkkrraaiinnee

Plast is Ukrainian scouting organization. The goal of Plast is to promote an all-round, patriotic education and self-education of Ukrainian youth on Christian principles. Being non-political and non-confession organization, Plast educates youth as conscious, responsible and valuable citizens of local, national and world community. Plast was established in 1911, shortly after scout movement was founded by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, and already in 1912 in Lviv, Ukraine its members swore the First Plast Oath. Among the founders of Plast were Dr. Oleksandr Tysovskyy, Petro Franko (the son of Ivan), and Ivan Chmola. The word “Plast” comes from Ukrainian word “plastun” which was the name of Scouts of Ukrainian Cossacks.

Plast was founded in the Volyn region after the end of World War I. The first Plast council was opened at

the end of 1922 in Oleksandriya. It quickly spread throughout the region

during 1922-1924 and plast councils were opened in schools and

gymnasiums of Lutsk, Kovel, Zdolbuniv, Radyvyliv etc. In the

1930s, there were roughly 70 Plast

organizations in the Volyn region.

To reach its educational goals, Plast uses own unique education method. Its basic

TThhee TTiimmeess

JJaannuuaarryy,, 22001100 NNGGOO

principles include free-will membership, education and learning through game and work, gradual system of studies and trials, encouragement of initiative and self-management, perception of the nature and living in the nature, support of special interests and talents of children and youth. Unlike most scouting organizations in the world where membership is limited by the age of 25 years, membership in Plast is lifelong. Plast in Ukraine unites about 10.000 members of different ages and by that is the biggest scouting organization in Ukraine. Today about 130 local councils are present in all 24 Ukraine’s administrative units and in Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Besides Ukraine, Plast also officially exists in eight states, namely: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Plast actively cooperates with state authorities and other public organizations implementing various social and educational programs. During the year Plast in Ukraine conducts more than 100 educational

outdoor camps with different specializations: sporting, marine, aeronautical, arts, skiing, alpinist, archaeological, horse-riding, ecological, etc. At these camps Plast members master their knowledge and practical skills obtained during the year at weekly studies. Among the biggest events carried out by Plast on all-Ukrainian level are: intellectual-art competition

“Orlykiada”, creative festival “Den Plastuna”, sporting event “Spartakiada”, distribution of Light of Peace from Bethlehem among local communities, touristic contests “Stezhkamy herojiv” and “Osinniy reyd”. On a local level, Plast councils conduct lots of social-cultural and educational events.

http://plast.org.ua/

……RReecceenntt NNeewwss…… On February 20th plastuns from Ivano-Frankivsk celebrated 153th anniversary of Baden-Powell’s birthday On Saturday, February 20th, plastuns from Ivano-Frankivsk region hiked to the mountain Kostrycha (1585 metres above sea level), Verkhovyna district. The event was devoted to 153th anniversary of the birthday of Scout Movement founder – Robert Baden-Powell. Climbing began from Kryvopillya Passover (975 metres above sea level) in complicated weather conditions. The whole trip was accompanied by fog and rain. Despite this, plastuns, due to their persistence, finally reached the top, paving a path in all-around snow blanket. Plastuns from Ivano-Frankivsk and Yaremche participated in this hike.

PPuubblliisshheedd bbyy YYoouutthh MMeeddiiaa CCeenntteerr PPuubblliisshheedd uunnddeerr tthhee ssuuppppoorrtt ooff vvuull..KKoovveellsskkaa 44,, LLuuttsskk,, UUkkrraaiinnee OOppeenn UUkkrraaiinnee FFoouunnddaattiioonn EEddiittoorr:: AAnnddrriiyy PPaalliiyycchhuukk wwwwww..ooppeennuukkrraaiinnee..oorrgg