"Youth organizations in Great Britain and Ukraine"

Ex. 1. Read the text and tell about youth organizations in Great Britain.

Youth  organizations  in Great  Britain

Youth and youth movement have become important factors in the life of the country. Numerous youth organizations have been formed since the Second World War, uniting young people from all classes and sections of the population.

There are about 60 youth organizations in Great Britain. All youth organizations can be divided into three large groups: 1. non-political organizations; 2. youth organizations associated with political parties; 3. youth organizations controlled by religious bodies.

The two largest non-political youth organizations are the associations of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. There are about 1300000 boys and girls in them. The membership is voluntary¹.

The Scout Association was formed in 1908 by General Baden Powell. His idea was to train boys in mapping², signaling³, knotting⁴, first aid and all the skills that would arise from camping and outdoor activities. Most important of all for a Scout was to make a promise that he would do his best to do his duty to God and the Queen, to help other people and to obey the Scout Law.

The Boy Scouts had a left-handed handshake⁵, a special badge and the motto “Be Prepared”. The Scout Law embraces “honor, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift^6*  and cleanliness in thought and deed.

The Scout movement was intended⁶ for boys from 11 to 14 (15), but in 1916 Baden Powell introduced a program for younger people. He called them Wolf Cubs. They had special uniforms, badges⁷, a special training system and the motto “Do your best!”. The Wolf Cub pack is based on Kipling's “Jungle Book” about learning to survive.

The Girl Guides Association was founded by Baden Powell in 1910. It's divided into three sections: Brownies (from 7.5 to 11), Guides (from 11 to 16), Rangers⁸ (from 16 to 21). The program of training is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills including cookery, needlework, childcare. Like a Scout a Girl Guide must be a friend to animals. The Girl Guides Association has extensive international links.

There are some other non-political organizations: the Combined Cadet⁹ Force, Sea Cadet Corps, the Woodcraft Folk, the Youth Hostels Association, the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Greenpeace.

Youth Organization Greenpeace deals with most urgent ecological problems. It protests against nuclear weapon tests, sea and soil pollution, etc. Sport clubs are characteristic youth organizations in the UK. They unite people who are interested in baseball, football, golf, etc. There are also interest clubs in the UK. You can attend any club: from theatre to bird-watching clubs. By the way, bird watching clubs are very popular in Great Britain.

There are several youth organizations associated with political parties. The Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (YCND) unites young people and organizes mass meetings, demonstrations, marches of protest and festivals. It co-operates with the National Union of Students.

Religious young organizations and groups aim at helping  elderly people or working in hospitals. There are even groups where young people help released prisoners to start then life a-new. Religious organizations pay attention not only to the study of religious views but involve youth into such activities as music festivals and amateur theatre.

As you see, all these organizations aim at preserving and strengthening the social and political system existing in the country. Many of them have done and still are doing useful work in providing leisure facilities for young English people.

Ex. 2. Vocabulary

1. voluntary –добровільний;

Ex. 3. Answer the questions

1. How many youth organizations are there in Great Britain?

2. How can they be divided?

3. What are the largest non-political youth organizations?

4. What was General Baden Powel’s idea of the Scout Association?

5. What was most important of all for a Scout?

6. What does the Scout Law embrace?

7. At what age can one become a Scout?

8. When was the Girl Guides Association founded?

9. How is the Girl Guides Association divided?

10. What does the program of training include?

11. What does Youth Organization Greenpeace deal with?

12. What organization unites young people and organizes mass meetings and demonstrations?

13. What do religious young organizations and groups aim at?

Ex. 4. Finish the sentences according to the text.

1. Youth organizations in Great Britain unite ___.

2. All youth organizations can be divided into ___.

3. The largest non- political organizations are ___

4. Most important of all for a Scout was ___.

5. The Scout Law embraces ___.

6. The Girl Guides Association is divided into ___.

7. Youth Organization Greenpeace protests against ___.

8. The Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament unites young people ___.

9. Religious organizations involve youth into ___.

10.All these organizations aim at ___.

Ex. 5. Correct the false sentences.

1. Youth organizations unite young people from all classes.

2. There are over 60 youth organizations in Great Britain.

3. The two largest non-political youth organizations are The Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Girl Guides.

4. The membership in the associations of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides is obligatory.

5. Most important of all for a Scout was to make a promise that he would do his best to do his duty to God and the Queen, to help other people and to obey the Scout Law.

6. The Boy Scouts organization has a left-handed handshake.

7. The program of training of the Boy Scouts is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills.

8. Youth Organization Greenpeace deals with most urgent ecological problems.

9. Religious young organizations and groups aim at helping  young people or working in hospitals.

10. The Scout Association pays attention not only to the study of religious views but involve youth into such activities as music festivals and amateur theatre.

Ex. 6. Read the text and tell about youth organizations in Ukraine.

Youth organizations in Ukraine

Everybody knows that the life of any age or generation is determined by the economic, social and political situation in the country. The split of the Soviet Union changed the lives of many people, especially young. The youth is unemployed more than any other age group because of their lack of working experience and knowledge. No doubt, it leads to the criminal situation in the country.

For this reason the Ukrainian Government created youth organizations in our country, which are meant to help young people to find their place in life. The most famous organization is: «The Students" League», they solve students" problems including’s economic ones. They usually organize youth forums, festivals and interest group meetings. They have ties with the Student Unions of many foreign countries.

It is not surprising that many political parties in Ukraine have youth wings: People’s Democratic League of Youth; Ukrainian Social-Democratic Youth; the Union of Agrarian Youth; Leninist Communist Union of Youth of Ukraine, and others.

These youth organizations used to work under the guidance of their political parties. Their participants are active and influential in social and political life of the country. For example, they may form a coalition during the election campaign, such as «Youth for Leonid Kuchma».

To protest against the pollution of the environment young people organize the «greens» movement. Their purpose is to help governmental and nongovernmental organizations to protect and preserve a safe environment in our country.

It would be a mistake to think that young people are not interested in self-consciousness. For example, the «Young Prosvita» constantly raises self-consciousness and promotes Ukrainian culture among young generation.

It must be admitted that in the early 1990s the Union of Pioneer organizations was also set in Ukraine. They unite children and teenagers from 10 to 15 years old. They help children to become worthy citizens of their country.

The Boy Scout organization is also developing in Ukraine. It is based on the principles of British and American organizations.

Ex. 2. Vocabulary

is determined — визначений

split — розпад

experience — досвід

participant — учасник

Ex. 3. Insert the missing words

1. It is not _______  that ______  political parties in ________  have youth wings.

2. For example, the «Young ________» constantly _________ self-consciousness and promotes _________ culture among young generation.

3. The most ________ organization is: «The Students" League», they ________ students" problems includings _______ ones.

4. The split of the Soviet Union _________ the lives of many people, ________ young.

5. Their participants are _________ and influential in ________ and political life of the country.

6. Their purpose is to help governmental and __________ organizations ______ protect and ________ a safe environment in _____ country.

7. Everybody knows _______ the life of any age or _________ is determined by the economic, social and political situation in the country.

8. It is based on the __________ of British and _________ organizations.

9. They usually __________ youth forums, __________ and interest __________ meetings.

10. No doubt, it _________ to the criminal __________ in the country.