Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947
Czech Youth Rebuilds Plundered Mining Areas
Czech Youth Rebuilds Plundered Mining Areas
On the north-west frontier of Bohemia, standing like a guardian against the outside world, runs a range of fog-covered mountains. On the eastern slopes, looking towards the centre, lies the Bohemian mining district—the black country—which provides brown coal for Czech industry. Like the mountains which divide it from Germany, the whole country-side is grim and bleak, covered with smoke and yellowish fog. Beside it you will find a sunny, wavy plain with small hills shaped like volcanoes—the cheerful, pleasant district of fruit trees and hops.
Not only in outward appearances but in the whole pattern of life there has always existed a great difference between the two districts. Living conditions of the brown-coal miners have always been bad—partly because of the general situation in the mining industry and partly because the mines were mainly owned by Germans.
The liberation brought at least partial relief to this district, great changes began, mines were nationalised and the social and living conditions of the miners were changed.
But not everything could be done at once and it takes time to improve the housing situation, which is acute in the whole of Czechoslovakia. This was the main reason which made the Czech youth choose this particular section of the Two Year Plan for their own efforts. They decided that they would build 2,000 housing units—each unit is a three-roomed flat with kitchen, bath, etc.—for the miners of the Most.
Disregarding all difficulties and obstacles, the young people set to work while the hard-frozen ground was still covered with several feel of snow. The first thawing saw them testing the ground to see whether it was soft enough for foundation digging. A group of technicians and competent youth leaders is in charge of the camp.
Education and Recreation
Although the main purpose of the camp is work, ample provision is being made for entertainment, study and recreation. The young people themselves organise lectures and socials, they have their own choir and recitation groups. They sing and read poetry, but at the same time they create the songs and poetry of the Brigade.
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Young Czechs at work on reconstruction
Great care is also being devoted to education. Members of the Brigade have a wide range of subjects from which to choose—foreign languages, literature and a great many technical subjects. These courses are led either by Brigade members who have specialised in any of these or by invited specialists from outside the camp.
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Trygve-Lie. General Secretary of UNO. dated April 22, 1947 is a new recognizance of the contribution which the democratic youth of the world, united in the WFDY, is making to the cause of Peace.
All the young boys and girls are willing to talk about the Brigade and their own work. I spent some time with them, living in the camp, participating in some voluntary work, attending lectures and socials, and all the time I asked questions and got prompt replies. They explained to me what the Youth Project really is why they are building it and how. In the centre of the colony of fairly small houses there will stand a big ultra-modern block of flats, equipped with all conveniences a restaurant, laundry, day-nursery, cinema, dance and lecture halls, shops and a library. Most of the work is being done by unskilled labour as there is an acute shortage of experienced builders in Czechoslovakia. Evening courses are being organised in masonry as an experiment for training new people. Judging by the enthusiasm with which everybody sets to work there, it should be very successful.
Sexes Share Work
Nearly all the jobs are being done by both men and women, and the people in charge often find it hard to get typists for the necessary office work, as girls, who until recently have worked in offices, much prefer to carry bricks or to dig foundations. During my visit to the camp I was accompanied by a large group of young people and during one of our talks I asked their occupations—they included students, workers, clerks, craftsmen and a small number of professional builders. Some are there for the minimum period of four months, others for one year and one or two intend staying for two years.
In the evening, when work is over and there are no organised entertainments small groups gather in rooms and in the lanes, singing, dancing or talking. Wardrobe doors open to reveal musical instruments and parcels from home containing such luxuries as chocolate and fruit.
By their youthful spirit, their songs and dances, and particularly by their work, which will greatly improve life in the district, these young people are creating a centre of cheerfulness and helping greatly in the transformation of the whole countryside, a transformation which will eventually turn the unpleasant Black Country into a congenial working place.
Dagmar Stein.