The Young Pioneers of China (), often shortened to the Young Pioneers () and sometimes translated into English as Red Pioneers, is a mass youth organization for children aged six to fourteen in the People's Republic of China. The Young Pioneers of China is run by the Communist Youth League, an organization of older youth that comes under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Young Pioneers of China is similar to Pioneer Movements that exist or existed in many Communist countries around the world.
History
The Youth and Children of China Movement () was created on October 13, 1949, by the CCP, and given its present name in June 1953. Between its own founding in 1921 and the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, the CCP ran various other youth movements in communist-held areas.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1978), the Young Pioneers Movement was temporarily dismantled. It was replaced by the Little Red Guards, who were the younger counterparts of the Red Guards, the implementers of the Cultural Revolution. The Young Pioneers Movement was restarted in October 1978.
The transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong and Macau in 1997 and 1999 respectively has not seen the expansion of CCP organizations (except two small working committees in Liaison Office of HK & Macau) to those areas, including the Young Pioneers.
Membership
Young Pioneers consist of children between the ages of six and fourteen; upon reaching the age of fourteen, members automatically exit the Young Pioneers and may go on to join the Communist Youth League.
Most elementary school students are Young Pioneers by the time they graduate from grade school. Most of the schools require students of the right age to become Young Pioneers. There were an estimated 130 million Young Pioneers in China, as of 2002.
Young Pioneers are immersed in CCP ideology and wear red scarves as a symbol of their commitment.
Organization
According to the Young Pioneers constitution, each school or village organizes a Pioneer Battalion (), which is divided into Pioneer Companies () each corresponding to a class, which is then further divided into Pioneer Squads/Teams () each with a handful of members. Each team has a leader () and an assistant leader (), ; each of the school Companies is led by a committee of between three and seven members; and a Young Pioneers Committee () of between seven and fifteen members serve as the battalion leadership staff. Adult leaders are chosen from either the Communist Youth League or from local teaching staff (called counselor, ).
Young Pioneers are also directed by a number of Working Committees ( or in short) at different levels over the battalion level up to the National Permanent Standing Commission ( or in short), Working Committees of different levels are responsible to the Congresses of Young Pioneers ( or in short) at the same level. The current chairperson of the NPSC-YPC is He Junke.
Constitution
The Constitution was officially passed on June 1, 1954, on international Children's Day. It has since been amended many times. The full text is available on Wikisource.
Symbols
Flag
According to the Young Pioneers Constitution, the flag is red, symbolizing the victory of the Revolution; the five-pointed star in the middle symbolizes the leadership of the CCP, while the torch symbolizes brightness down the path of communism.
The Pioneer Battalion flag is 90 x 120 cm, while the flag of each Company is 60 x 80 cm, with an isosceles triangle (60 x 20 cm) removed from the right side. The removed triangle corresponds to the red scarf worn by Young Pioneers.
Emblem
The emblem consists of the star, the torch, and a banner reading "The Young Pioneers of China".
Scarf
The red scarf ( ) is the only uniform item. Young Pioneers are often referred to simply as "Red Scarves"; the investiture ceremony often consists of new members having their scarves tied for them by existing members. Children wearing red scarves are a ubiquitous sight in China.
The red scarf is generally worn around the neck and tied, with no woggle. Some local groups also come up with other uniform items.
The Young Pioneers Constitution explains that the scarf corresponds to the missing triangle on the Pioneer Company flag. The Constitution also explains that the red of the scarf comes from the blood sacrificed by martyrs of the Revolution, and that all members should therefore wear the scarf with reverence.