ORGANIZACIÓN DE PIONEROS JOSE MARTÍ (OPJM)

Although, like similar organizations in other Communist countries the OPJM was inspired by, and in some of its superficial features derived from, the  Boy Scouts, its primary goal is to train and educate children in the norms and views of a Marxist-Leninist society.  Until 1966 the then Unión de Pioneros de Cuba (UPC) was somewhat selective, but it was then decided to turn it into a mass organization and the present name was adopted.  An autonomous organization with its own administration, it works very closely with the Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas.  By the 1980s, 98% of all primary-school children were members.  The OPJM is led, tutored, and controlled by Communist cadres who instill in children “a sense of honor, modesty, courage, comradeship, love of both physical and intellectual work, respect for workers, and love for our revolutionary armed forces and the interior ministry.”