Every day that passes is a day of youthful energy.

(Baonghean)On the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 - March 26, 2017), Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Comrade Pham Tuan Vinh - Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Youth Union, Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union - about issues related to the activities of the Youth Union at all levels in the province, in response to Youth Month and key tasks in 2017.

The flag-raising ceremony marks the start of Youth Month. Photo: My Nga.

PV:In early March, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Youth Union organized the launching ceremony for Youth Month 2017 with the theme "Young people join hands to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas". So, what vibrant activities are the Youth Union branches at all levels in the province undertaking to respond to Youth Month, Comrade?

Comrade Pham Tuan Vinh:Since 2004, the Central Party Secretariat has decided to designate March of each year as "Youth Month". This is an opportunity for young people to compete, take the lead, and volunteer to participate in socio-economic development and protect national security.

Along with the youth of the whole country, the youth of Nghe An have many vibrant, practical, and meaningful activities. The Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee focuses on directing the implementation of these activities in four main areas: Promoting revolutionary ideals education for the younger generation, with a focus on organizing traditional activities; Improving the quality of grassroots Youth Union organizations through all-union activities, Youth Union member days, and quality-assured membership recruitment; Undertaking projects and tasks that leverage the energy of youth to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas, in conjunction with celebrating the Youth Union Congress at all levels; Strengthening activities to support disadvantaged Youth Union members, students, and developing activities to support youth entrepreneurship…

With that orientation, the youth of the province have made their own mark during Youth Month, such as: simultaneous activities throughout the Youth Union, launching the "Moments of Youth Union Activities" competition; organizing a meeting and dialogue between National Assembly representatives and the youth of Nghe An; honoring outstanding young people and awarding prizes on March 26th; launching the Green Sunday campaign, piloting public toilets in Vinh City; the 3rd Vida Beer Youth Football Cup; and directing the Youth Councils at all levels to organize the "Children's Fun and Healthy Marching Towards the Youth Union" festival…

It is evident that the activities in response to Youth Month have created a vibrant atmosphere, igniting a flame of enthusiasm and a desire to contribute to the community.

PV:Activities during Youth Month provide excellent motivation for achieving the goals and tasks in 2017 – a crucial year for organizing youth union congresses at all levels and the 17th Provincial Youth Union Congress. So, could you please tell us about the key tasks that the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee has directed for this year?

Comrade Pham Tuan Vinh:In 2017, in addition to implementing the work program as guided by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union identified three key tasks to focus on: Successfully organizing the Youth Union congresses at all levels, leading up to the 17th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Nghe An province for the 2017-2022 term; Improving the quality of the Youth Union organization; and Focusing on supporting young people in starting businesses and establishing themselves.

Currently, all 9/9 grassroots units selected by the province as pilot sites and all 63/63 grassroots Youth Union units selected by the district to hold pilot congresses have successfully organized their congresses. It is expected that the district-level pilot congresses will be organized in early April as planned.

Provincial Youth Union Secretary Pham Tuan Vinh attends a meeting with Youth Union Branch 4, Phuc Son commune (Anh Son district). Photo: Hoai Thu.

On the other hand, to effectively promote the role of the Youth Union as a reliable reserve force of the Party, the Provincial Youth Union focuses on improving the quality of grassroots Youth Union branches, especially those in residential areas, in conjunction with the implementation of Project No. 01-DA/TU dated August 10, 2016, of the Provincial Party Committee on "Building Party branches and developing Party members in blocks, hamlets, and villages without Party branches or Party members, and blocks, hamlets, and villages at risk of no longer having Party branches in the period 2016 - 2020" (Project 01) and Decision No. 5155-QD/TU dated February 8, 2014, on "Issuing the Project on developing Party members and Party organizations in private enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises in Nghe An province, period 2014 - 2020" of the Provincial Party Committee (Decision 5155).

To improve the quality of youth union activities, we have developed, guided, and oriented the content of youth union activities from the beginning of the year and concretized the content of youth union activities through the monthly publication of the "Nghe An Youth" newsletter; implemented the model of youth union secretary also serving as village team leader, youth union secretary also serving as security officer; and the model of students taking on the position of Youth Union Secretary in special areas and localities with frequent personnel changes.

During this Youth Month, all grassroots Youth Union branches in residential areas successfully organized a "Unit-wide Meeting" on March 11, 2017. Members of the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee also attended the meeting with several grassroots Youth Union branches.

At the same time, the Provincial Youth Union Executive Committee also launched the "Moments of Youth Union Branch Activities" photo and video contest, attracting many high-quality entries. In the coming time, the Provincial Youth Union Executive Committee will continue to regularly supervise the Youth Union branch activities.

In implementing the Provincial Party Committee's Project 01, the Youth Union at all levels has proactively advised Party committees and authorities, and coordinated with relevant departments and organizations to implement solutions to consolidate, strengthen, and improve the quality of Youth Union and Association activities in disadvantaged units; and in areas without Youth Union or Association organizations, it is necessary to intensify efforts to establish Youth Union and Association branches.

The Standing Committee of the Provincial Youth Union directed the district and grassroots-level Youth Unions and selected four units, namely Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Quynh Luu, and Nghia Dan, to focus on implementing the Plan. Regarding the implementation of Decision 5155, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Youth Union has annually integrated the content of consolidating and developing Youth Union and Association organizations in non-state enterprises into the annual work program; directed 21 district, city, and town Youth Unions and the Nghe An Enterprise Bloc Youth Union to implement it, and also directed pilot implementation in two units: Vinh City Youth Union and Quy Hop District Youth Union.

In addition, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Youth Union focuses on supporting young people in starting businesses and establishing themselves. After the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology, organized the launching ceremony of the "Nghe An Youth Entrepreneurship" program in December 2016, by March 2017, the Organizing Committee had received 37 startup projects and ideas in various fields such as information technology, agriculture, and mechanics.

Based on the submitted projects and ideas, the organizing committee will conduct a preliminary selection to choose 5-10 of the best and most practical ideas to participate in the final round, which will be held in June 2017.

Students from Vinh Medical University participate in blood donation at the 2017 "Drop of Red Blood" festival. Photo: My Nga.

PV:On the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, what message would you like to convey to the young generation of our province so that the role and position of youth will be increasingly affirmed, promoted, and contribute to the building and protection of our homeland and country?

Comrade Pham Tuan Vinh:I would like to convey to all the Youth Union members and young people that the Standing Committee of the Provincial Youth Union always hopes that each Youth Union member and young person will develop their abilities, intelligence, enthusiasm, and youthful passion, be pioneering and progressive in their studies, personal and professional development, and in serving the community with truly practical and meaningful actions.

Youth Month, with its vibrant, meaningful, and emotionally rich activities, always awakens in each of us a sense of pride in the glorious traditions of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Let this be our spiritual motivation so that every month is Youth Month, and every day is a day of youthful energy.

PV:Thank you, comrade!

Thanh Duy

(Perform)