Trilogy of Native Land
Belarus declared 2018-2020 the Years of Native Land. This topic has really struck a chord with Belarusians. All of us have a hometown, a place where we were born and raised. Even if we are hundreds or thousands of kilometers apart, we still feel love and affection for it.
“We are making our Belarus a better place to live. No wonder that many tourists not only praise Belarus for its beauty and cleanness, but also find here something dear to them. Something that reminds them of their own home.”
Belarusians know about Aleksandr Lukashenko's deep affection for his native land. The President often comes to visit his hometown. It was he who masterminded and initiated the trilogy dedicated to this important topic. The Head of State said that this decision was prompted by the reflections on the importance of a hometown in the life of every person: “This topic is multifaceted. For some it is a hometown, a street in the city or a small courtyard, a village where they spent their best childhood years. For others it is a piece of wildlife which pleased the eye and gave a sense of fullness and peace.” The President also stressed that it was time for everyone not only to remember their roots, the place which keeps a piece of their soul but also time to give something back to this piece of land. “I really want it to come from the heart, to be your own initiative. You can contribute financially, creatively, educationally, artistically. It all depends on you, on your possibilities, imagination and desires. The moment has come to express yourself and enter your name into the history of your hometown, this piece of our land.” “The state has done a lot on this front and will not stop at that. Perfection knows no limits, and one can always put their energy to good use. Belarus is our common home and it is in our own interests to make it cozy and exemplary. Let’s show that we are true and diligent masters of our land. We are many. Even the tiniest contribution will matter and will help make the country more beautiful.”
The President signed Decree No. 247 on the Year of Native Land in Belarus on 20 June 2018. The document was adopted to stimulate social and economic development of the regions, develop an active civic position among Belarusians, and preserve historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. Later the Council of Ministers approved the National Plan of Action for the Years of Native Land 2018-2020 in Belarus. The program includes more than 120 events. They comprise measures to tidy up public recreation areas, clean up forests and cemeteries, recultivate and involve unused land in agriculture, construct reclamation systems, improve architectural planning in rural areas. The list of measures also includes assistance with self-employment in rural areas, including individual entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, agro-ecotourism, and farming. This includes giving consultations, teaching business basics, providing financial support, and setting up centers of crafts.
Events of the Year of Native Land have brought together many Belarusians. Thousands of people took part in campaigns to beautify recreation sites and tidy up their neighborhoods. The Year of Native Land inspired exhibitions and festivals, art contests and important social and charity projects. The years 2018 and 2019 saw efforts to spruce up villages and social infrastructure, renovate provincial roads, preserve historical and cultural heritage. In April 2018, during the national cleanup day, Aleksandr Lukashenko together with his three sons, helped tidy up Trofim’s Spring near his hometown. “We are making our Belarus a better place to live. No wonder that many tourists not only praise Belarus for its beauty and cleanness, but also find here something dear to them. Something that reminds them of their own home,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed as he took part in the Kupala Night Festival in Alexandria in the summer of 2019.