The Union of Young Communists (UJC). It is the vanguard political organization of Cuban youth, it is the youth organization of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the main quarry for joining its ranks, forged in the Marxist-Leninist conception, the ideas and the practice of the thought of Maceo, Martí, Camilo, Che and Fidel; is heir and continuation of the fighting traditions of young Cubans who, throughout history, have been an essential part of the revolutionary advance.
The Union of Young Communists maintains relations with 218 organizations from different parts of the world and is affiliated with the World Federation of Democratic Youth; in turn, it develops links with 14 other international organizations. The organization’s first secretary is Susely Morfa González.
Regarding the characteristics of the organization of young Cubans, Che stated:
“The Union of Young Communists has to define itself with a single word: vanguard. You, comrades, must be the vanguard of all movements. The first to be ready for the sacrifices that the revolution demands, whatever the nature of those sacrifices. The first in the work. The first in the study. The first in the defense of the country.”
The Union of Young Communists (UJC) arises as a result of the process of unity of the Cuban youth movement, of the definitive victory of socialism after the fighting in Playa Girón in 1961 and the development towards higher forms of organization of the Association of Young Rebels (AJR ), its predecessor.
From March 30 to April 4, 1962, the First Congress of the Association of Young Rebels met, which as a unitary group of Cuban youth had been developing as the Revolution progressed and deepened, and was already the indisputable vanguard among the newest generations of workers, students and peasants.
On the closing day of the Congress, Fidel proposed, and the delegates unanimously agreed, to adopt the name UJC. This change of name was not a mere formalism, as was clarified then and has been reiterated in practice over the years, but rather the expression of the will of the youth to build socialism only 90 miles from imperialism, a will that it is maintained today and that is made evident in each new congress of the organization.
Admission to the UJC is voluntary and selective. More than 500,000 young people are active in it and the projection of their work goes beyond its members, it is aimed at the entire young population of the country. It is structured throughout the country, and to direct the work between congresses and congresses, it has a National Committee and a National Bureau, the latter made up of 26 people.
Its objective is to ensure the unity of young Cubans, mobilize them around the Socialist Revolution and contribute to their education. These guiding principles of the organization are not only for its membership, but also extend to all youth, who represent and look after their interests. This political organization has constitutional prerogatives in matters of youth policy, representing the Cuban State in international organizations related to this sector of the population.
At the closing of the Ninth Congress of the UJC, Army General Raúl Castro expressed to the young people attending the great event:
“Cuban youth are called to take over from the founding generation of the Revolution and to lead the great force of the masses requires a vanguard that convinces and mobilizes (…) Young Cuban revolutionaries understand perfectly that to preserve the Revolution and Socialism and continuing to be worthy and free have many more years of struggle and sacrifices ahead of them.” Raúl Castro, April 4, 2010
Thus, worthy followers of revolutionary ideas, defenders of socialism and for the construction of a better world, more supportive, more humane, more just, today’s young Cubans take the flags in their hands and continue the struggle in the trench than in every moment it has been their turn to defend the homeland and its revolutionary ideals.
(Embacuba Grecia and Ecured)
