What initiatives have emerged in the Vitebsk region for patriotic education?
A lot is being done in the Vitebsk region to instill in youth a love for their homeland, an understanding of the state's policy, and a sense of belonging to the common historical destiny of our people, emphasized Dmitry Demidov, head of the Vitebsk region's deputy corps, at an offsite meeting of the presidium of the regional Council of Deputies dedicated to the implementation of the patriotic education program.
"Patriotic education of youth is not only a call to be ready to defend, like our grandfathers and great-grandfathers in the years of the Great Patriotic War, their Fatherland, mother, and family, but also instilling love for their small homeland. It is important that our children know about the unique achievements of their ancestors and their native land. And this will contribute to the development of settlements and regions. As a senator, I have visited the Rossony district many times, held meetings with young people, and saw their desire to stay in their native lands and work for the benefit of their small homeland. They have grown into this land, they want to live here. And this is the example on which patriotic education should be built," noted Dmitry Demidov.
"Materials from the investigation of the criminal case on the genocide of the Belarusian people by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Belarus are used in the educational process. In the Vitebsk region, 243 villages were burned twice, 83 – three times, 22 – four times or more," said Marina Novitskaya, head of the main department of ideological work and youth affairs of the regional executive committee, in her speech at the meeting.
During the period of implementation of the patriotic education program for the population, new memorial signs have appeared in cities and settlements. In particular, in the village of Kalinovoye, Miory district, in memory of the shot civilians of the Yazna rural council. On the 605th kilometer of the Brest-Minsk-Moscow highway, in the village of Shukhovtsy, Dubrovno district, a monument to a liberator soldier was opened at the site of a military burial. On the territory of the memorial complex "5th Regiment" in Vitebsk, a memorial sign "Tree of Life" was erected, dedicated to the victims of the genocide of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War.
In order to form national identity, over two thousand events aimed at popularizing the country's historical and cultural heritage have been held in regions and libraries over five years. Throughout the year, public libraries dedicated their cultural and mass events to the 85th anniversary of the Vitebsk region, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, and the anniversary dates of districts and cities.
Dialogue platforms are held on a systematic basis, and events of the information project "SHAG" are implemented. Many general secondary education institutions have been named after heroes and famous fellow countrymen.
– For the purpose of historical and cultural education of the population, the All-Belarusian Youth Expedition "Routes of Memory. Routes of Unity" was held, during which over 200 expeditionary, excursion, and tourist groups were organized. Participants familiarized themselves with places associated with the life and activities of famous fellow countrymen. Based on the results of the work done, creative projects "Heroes of the Belarusian Land" were prepared. The country's first regional resource center for military-patriotic education for teachers was created at the regional institute for the development of education, – explained Marina Novitskaya.
The formation of patriotism is facilitated by a number of regional initiatives and projects. For example, in the Polotsk district, the large-scale regional historical and educational project "Polotsk Frontier" is being implemented in stages, aimed at conducting search and research work on the history of the Polotsk fortified region.
Заместитель председателя Россонского райисполкома Людмила Тращенко и директор Клястицкой средней школы имени В. Хомченовского Татьяна Мельман рассказали, какое внимание уделяется патриотическому воспитанию в их регионе.
Меняется эпоха. Буквально на глазах ускоряется темп жизни, появляются новые технологии, молодежь становится более продвинутой, все процессы проходят динамичнее. Но остается неизменной жизненная ценность любого государства – патриотизм его граждан, который начинается с любви к своей родине, к тому месту, где ты родился и вырос, с гордости за свою семью, школу, деревню, поселок или город, за людей, которые живут рядом.