Developing Youth for a Socialist Society: The Role of the José Martí Pioneer Organization in Cuba

• In Event: Education Activism as Affirmative Resistance: Examples of Real Educational Utopias Through and Outside the State

Proposal

Since 1959 Cuban have been engaged in transforming their society guided by revolutionary socialist ideas of Karl Marx, José Martí, and Fidel Castro. In recent years, Cubans – after extensive popular discussion – adopted a new constitution in 2019 and approved by referendum a Families Code (e.g., recognizing the rights to marriage to gay, lesbian, straight, and transexuals) in 2022. Moreover, particularly since the early 1990s, Cuba has undertaken major efforts to address climate change, including the implementation of its 100-year plan, “Life Task,” launched in 2017.
The question arises how Cuba seeks to educate and socialize Cubans to understand and participate in the construction of their alternative, socialist society. Certainly, the formal education system – provided for free from preschool through university – plays an important role. So do the nonformal education programs offered by the mass organizations (e.g., of workers and women). Television and radio programing also contributes. However, one nonformal or extracurricular programs that is particularly noteworthy – and will be the focus of this presentation – is the José Martí Pioneer Organization.
The Pioneer organization, established in April, 1961, engages on a voluntary basis children and youth in grades 1 through 9 (ages 6-15) in a range of activities in and out of schools during the school year as well as special summer camps. In line with the motto of the organization, "Pioneers for communism: Let us be like Che!," participants learn about the historical and contemporary challenges and accomplishments of their socialist society. They also often take on leadership roles in classrooms and schools. In addition, pioneers take on community service projects, ranging from helping in childcare centers and senior citizen programs to preserving and protecting the physical environment. For example, in 2001 Cuba’s Pioneer organization was recognized for its environmental activities by being elected to the Global 500 Roll of Honor of the United Nations Environment Program.
This presentation, which is based on a review of literature (government and organizational documents as well as ethnographic studies), explores the structure of the Pioneer organization, the nature of the activities undertaken by pioneers of different ages, and the views of children and youth participants as well as the memory-based reflections of adults on their experiences as pioneers.

Author

• Mark Ginsburg, University of Maryland