Youth of the Polish Red Cross

The first School Circles of the Polish Red Cross (PCK) were established in Radom and Warsaw two years after regaining independence, in 1921, and it was they who initiated the widespread youth movement called the Youth of the Polish Red Cross. A year later, 399 such units were spontaneously created across the country! The PCK Circles were established at the initiative of the then-president of the PCK - General Józef Haller.

“... we wish to awaken in the hearts of our children and youth the spirit of love for one's neighbor and a sense of duty towards all people, to do good wherever the strength allows, not only for other purposes but for the sake of the good deed itself, to seek reward for good deeds in one's own conviction of fulfilling duty. We want to oppose selfishness with the love of the community, the good of which is simultaneously the good of each individual. However we formulate this goal, the paths to it lead through the association of children and youth under the banner of the Red Cross and through their active participation in activities…” - this is how the objective of youth action was defined by the Main Committee of the Youth Circles of the Polish Red Cross.

The Youth Circles carried out countless hygiene actions, cleanliness contests, and in the spirit of the Red Cross, the youth also trained in first aid and rescue. However, the foundation was the Samaritan activity. The Youth Circles gathered funds by organizing various campaigns, sewing shirts for poor children on their own, organizing holiday packages for those in need, visiting the sick in hospitals and homes, organizing clothing and book drives, providing nourishment in schools, and caring for abandoned graves.

The Youth Circles of the Polish Red Cross were established in all types of schools: secondary schools, gymnasiums, vocational and trade schools, teacher seminaries, and elementary schools, and over time, academic circles were also created.

The first Youth Circles in Poland were modeled after existing units in other national Red Cross associations around the world. The youth movement arose spontaneously during World War I out of the need to help soldiers and their families. It began almost simultaneously in the United States, Canada, and Australia. After the end of the Great War, the topic was mainly continued by Americans. Ideological workers of the Red Cross organized eager and active youth under the Red Cross banner - at that time, the Junior Red Cross was created with the slogan "I serve". Following the example of America, in 1925, the youth movement had already developed in 50 countries of the Red Cross League established in 1919. The youth of countries affiliated with the League maintained correspondence contacts, exchanging experiences and ideas, learning from each other. In all these countries, the youth movement had its formal regulations, and special magazines for youth were published.

After 15 years of activity, in 1936, there were already 4,500 clubs in Poland gathering 220,000 members. It was unimaginable to have a school without the Youth Circle of the Polish Red Cross. Thanks to charismatic educators and instructors, the youth could feel their own worth and the purpose of charity and selfless help. And this is still true today. It is the guardians of the School Circles of the Polish Red Cross who ensure that the ideas from 1921 remain alive.

Under the slogan "Love thy neighbor!" the Youth Circles conducted rich activities in the 1920s and 1930s.

1. Activities to help those in need (help for orphans, widows, the disabled, the elderly, poor families; collecting bread for shelters; organizing Christmas trees and Easter blessings for the poor; tutoring; care for the graves of fallen soldiers; animal care; running libraries and reading rooms; organizing colonies; nurturing young trees along roads; organizing Mother's Day).
2. Hygiene and health (first aid kits, washbasins, hairdressers, health talks, health and cleanliness competitions, care for healthy teeth, distributing cod liver oil, first aid courses, collecting herbs, fighting dirt, combating tuberculosis, creating posters and leaflets with hygiene rules, organizing children's rooms in hospitals, working on "patches," or in gardens).
3. Handicrafts (sewing dresses and shirts for impoverished children, making buttons, yarn work, creating Christmas ornaments, weaving, shoemaking, making straw hats, baskets).
4. International school correspondence conducted under the patronage of the League of Red Cross Societies (writing letters, making and sending national-themed toys, creating albums with folk costumes, examples of crafts, embroidery and lace patterns, collecting and recording applications, historical legends). One-third of all clubs conducted foreign correspondence).