Plast is an organisation for Ukrainian young people which aims to create patriotic people though self development and knowledge.
Ukrainian Scouting known as “Plast” was founded in Lviv, Ukraine, by Dr. Oleksander Tysovsky during 1911-12.
Dr. Oleksander Tysovsky modelled Plast on the English Scouting organisation founded by Lord Baden Powell in 1908, but within a Ukrainian context.
The Fleur-de-lis, the emblem of worldwide Scouting, was interlaced with the Ukrainian national “Tryzub” or trident symbol (designed by Professor Lisovsky) making this the official badge of Ukrainian Scouting “Plast”.
The Ukrainian Scout Emblem
The name Plast is taken from Cossack history. The word Plastun comes from the name given by Cossack warriors to their reconnaissance scouts.
Dr.Oleksander Tysowsky also took names for sections from Cossack cohorts, such as “kurin” and “kish” and interwove Ukrainian historic and cultural reference into the new organisation.
The aim of Plast is to develop patriotic young people to be competent, responsible and valuable citizens to local, national and world communities and to promote the development of leadership skills.
Plast quickly won popularity among young Ukrainians and began to expand.
Consequently it was banned by authorities which governed Ukraine - the Poles, Germans and the soviet regime.
Surviving all this as well as two world wars, Plast revived and began to expand again in post-war Germany and in DP (refugee) camps. From there, Plast members moved on to various countries around the globe.