WP Youth End of Year Report – A New Hope
Despite the global developments, this year has been, a positive one for Workers Party Youth, both domestically and internationally.
“The basic clay of our work is the youth; we place our hope in it and prepare it to take the banner from our hands.” Ernesto Che Guevara
Despite the global developments, this year has been, a positive one for Workers Party Youth, both domestically and internationally. Against the backdrop of the Zionist genocide on Gaza, increasing polarity and escalation in the Middle East and in the wider world, looming environmental catastrophe, and a disheartening maintenance of the status-quo in our own elections, Workers Party Youth have had enough, and are taking a stand!
Our members have worked tirelessly supporting anti-genocide demonstrations throughout Ireland and Britain, working with WP branches and the wider public. We will remain defiant against the fat cats their war mongering. This solidarity among the working class is vital and allows for the seeding and nurturing of a class-conscious perspective that is deliberately excluded from mainstream media. In war there is always a winner, and it is never the mother, the child, the student or the worker.
A new hope has been the increase in the interest in a class-conscious alternative to the neoliberal and neo-colonial capitalist narratives pedalled to us in the propaganda that makes up the bulk of the mainstream media. The mainstream media, which seeks to promote the bourgeois ideology through the control of fear and information, marginalises the voice the people and platforms racists and fascists. It doesn’t have to be the norm. With young members from Cork to Belfast, even Glasgow and London, the time has come to join your peers and get involved.
Youth of Europe Rise Up!
In 1917, the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the Russian bourgeoisie and established the world's first constitutional socialist state. In his speech to the Third All-Russia Congress of The Russian Young Communist League, Comrade Lenin stated: “The tasks of the youth in general, and of the Young Communist Leagues and all other organisations […], might be summed up in a single word: learn… Only by radically remoulding the teaching, organisation and training of the youth shall we be able to ensure that the efforts of the younger generation will result in the creation of a society that will be unlike the old society, i.e., in the creation of a communist society.”
107 years later, representatives from Workers Party Youth, along with 18 other European communist and workers youth organisations met in Rome for the 18th Meeting of Communist Youth Organisations.
This event, hosted on this occasion by Front of the Communist Youth Italy (FGC), provided an excellent opportunity for discussion and analysis of most pressing contemporary issues faced by the youth of Europe, namely, women’s equality, environmental issues and the threat of the rise of the far-right. In a joint statement by organisations in attendance, Workers Party Youth and our fraternal organisations across Europe characterise each of these issues as a facet of capitalism. Capitalism fosters contradictions within society and entrenches the racist and colonial dynamics between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ nations.
This shared characterisation of, and opposition to capitalism gives us a basis for building a strong international spirit, joint actions with like-minded young people around the world. Workers Party Youth and Communist Youth Union France (UJC) are currently working on a joint project to encourage the youth of both countries to engage with Marxist-Leninist theory and its relevance in addressing the contradictions of contemporary society.
This year also marked the 50th Odigitis, where comrades from all around the world can meet and celebrate solidarity in the workers movement. The festival is held in Athens every year by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), and this year saw the largest number of international organisations in attendance, with around 50 Communist and Workers Youth Organisations, including WPY. Our delegated took part in political debates and seminars, spoke to comrades from every corner of the earth at the ‘International City’, and were able to meet with our Palestinian comrades to donate for aid for Gaza. The warmth and resilience of these young people, despite the ongoing genocide, was truly humbling.
If you want to get into the Christmas spirit and give a little, here is a recent communication from our young comrades in the Palestinian Communist Party.
“Under the harsh conditions faced by residents of displacement camps in the Mawasi area, south of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Communist Party Gaza Strip Organization launched a humanitarian initiative to distribute food packages to families in need. This effort was supported by youth organizations and friendly communist and socialist parties through their generous donations as part of our campaign for Gaza. The initiative also marked the World Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
This activity came in response to the urgent needs of residents suffering from severe food shortages caused by the blockade, dire economic conditions, and the ongoing genocidal war waged by the occupation army. The initiative aimed to provide food support to the most vulnerable families, alleviate the hardships resulting from the lack of basic resources, and foster a spirit of solidarity and social cohesion within the community.
**Activity Details:**
**Location:** Displacement camps in the Mawasi area – southern Gaza Strip, including Jerusalem Camp (northwest of Khan Yunis) and Samoud Camp (southwest of Khan Yunis).
**Number of Beneficiaries:** Targeted [250] needy families, providing a total of [250] food packages.
The initiative was warmly received by beneficiary families, as it helped provide meals during the activity period. It also brought joy and hope to residents enduring dire humanitarian conditions.
This initiative represents a small step toward alleviating the suffering of needy families in displacement camps. Despite the challenges, its success highlights the importance of community cooperation and its role in supporting vulnerable groups. We aim to continue similar activities in the future to ensure sustainable support and contribute to improving the living conditions of these families.
**How to Donate:**
**PayPal:** [email protected]
**Website:** https://gofund.me/0d171559
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WANTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH WORKERS PARTY YOUTH AND OUR INITIATIVE, CONTACT VIA THE WORKERS PARTY WEBSITE.