In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the Bolivian Scout Association held a National Growth Workshop on September 28 and 29. Supported by the Interamerica Support Center as part of the Growth Service, the workshop brought together 62 scout leaders from across the country with one shared goal: to reverse the membership decline that began in 2017 and worsened due to the pandemic.
The National Growth Commissioner, alongside Nicolás Rairán, a WOSM consultant, led the workshop. Scout groups were encouraged to develop growth plans tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. The workshop, titled “The Magic of Growth,” aimed to equip scout leaders with the tools to expand the reach of Scouting to more young people.
During the event, participants worked in roundtable discussions, sharing the challenges they faced and seeking solutions through shared experiences. The active participation and exchange of ideas became the heart of the workshop, strengthening the sense of unity within the movement. Leading up to the workshop, the team conducted virtual meetings and analysed membership and retention data from 2015 to 2023.
"Becoming more Scouts is our dream. This workshop made me realise we are not alone in this mission, and it filled me with the strength to achieve our goals. I am grateful to the team, the leaders, and especially to Nicolás Rairán, who helped us see the magic of growth," said workshop participant María Fernanda López.
In addition, interviews were conducted with 15 successful scout groups, identifying best practices that could be applied across other groups. One key outcome was the expansion of the Growth Service team, which started with just one person and has now grown to five members, allowing for more tasks to be addressed nationally. The workshop provided an opportunity to assess these experiences and develop tailored growth plans for each Scout group.
WOSM Services provide specialized support and resources tailored to the unique needs of each Scout Association, playing a crucial role in helping local groups grow and strengthen Scouting. This workshop not only enabled Scout leaders to create effective growth plans, but it also deepened their connection with WOSM, underscoring the value of collaboration and shared learning.