Written by Ahmad Solomon, National Coordinator for Group Growth

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” These simple words can continue to inspire us as it has inspired generations to take the first step. They remind us that meaningful change rarely begins with perfect conditions. It begins when ordinary people decide to act with what they already have.

In South Africa, this message has particular significance. Our nation is remarkably diverse just like SCOUTS South Africa. Some communities have access to resources, facilities and opportunities that others can only dream of. Some Scout Groups meet in purpose-built halls with experienced leaders and generations of tradition behind them. Others meet wherever they can, relying on the commitment of volunteers who give their time despite demanding jobs, long commutes and limited resources. Neither reality is more “South African” than the other. Both are part of who we are.

This is why growth deserves a deeper conversation. Too often, we define growth by what is easiest to count: more members, more Groups, more activities or more events. These are important indicators, but they do not tell the whole story. Real growth begins long before numbers change.

It begins when a volunteer decides to mentor a young person who lacks confidence. It begins when a Group welcomes a new family into its community. It begins when a young Scout discovers that leadership is not about being in charge, but about serving others. It begins when a community chooses hope over limitation.

Perhaps the first question we should ask is not, “How do we grow?” but rather, “Why do we grow?” For SCOUTS South Africa, the answer is simple. We grow because every young person deserves the opportunity to develop character, resilience, leadership and a sense of service. We grow because there are communities that have yet to experience what Scouting can offer. We grow because our purpose is larger than our current reach.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Growth is not about building a bigger organisation. It is about extending our impact. That understanding also changes how we see success. No two Groups begin from the same place. Some enjoy favourable circumstances. Others work tirelessly with very little. Some face social challenges that make every meeting an achievement in itself. Comparing these Groups by identical measures does not always reflect the realities they face. Yet every Group has something of value. Every community has people. Every Group has relationships. Every volunteer brings experience. Every young person brings potential. Growth begins when we recognise these strengths rather than focusing only on what we lack.

This is the wisdom behind the words: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. To start where you are requires honesty. It means understanding your community without comparing it unfairly to someone else’s. It means recognising both your challenges and your opportunities. And sometimes privileges and blind spots. To use what you have requires perspective. Resources are important, but they are not limited to buildings, equipment or funding. Our greatest resources are often less visible: committed volunteers, supportive parents, willing community partners, young people full of curiosity and leaders who care enough to keep showing up. How do we take care of them and develop them. To do what you can requires courage. It asks us to stop waiting for perfect conditions before taking meaningful action.

History reminds us that extraordinary movements have often begun with ordinary people who refused to believe that limited circumstances defined their future. They started with what they had, learned as they went and inspired others to do the same. Scouting has always been built on that spirit. Our Movement has never promised that every community would have equal resources. What it has always offered is something far more powerful: the opportunity for young people and adults to grow together through adventure, service and shared responsibility.

This is where leadership matters most. Leadership is not measured only by how much we achieve ourselves. It is measured by how many people grow because we were there. Every adult volunteer has the opportunity to help a young person discover confidence. Every Patrol Leader has the opportunity to encourage another Scout. Every parent has the opportunity to support a Group. Every community has the opportunity to strengthen the next generation. Growth is never the responsibility of one person alone. It is the result of many people taking responsibility for the part they can play.

As Scouts, we are guided by more than activities and achievements. We are guided by the Scout Promise and the Scout Law. These are not simply words spoken at an investiture ceremony. They are values that shape our decisions, our relationships and our leadership. They remind us to be trustworthy in our commitments, loyal in our service, considerate of others, courageous in difficulty and disciplined in our actions. They call us to leave every place better than we found it. Perhaps they also call us to leave every person better than we found them.

If we truly believe that today’s Scouts will become tomorrow’s leaders, then our responsibility extends beyond delivering a programme. We are helping shape the kind of citizens, neighbours, colleagues, parents and leaders our country will need in the years ahead. That is why growth matters. Not because bigger is always better. But because every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their own potential, regardless of where they live or the circumstances into which they were born. As South Africans, we know that our starting points are not equal. But we also know that hope has never depended solely on circumstance. Hope grows when people choose to act.

So let us continue to ask how we can strengthen our Groups, support our volunteers and reach more young people. Let us celebrate every success, no matter how small, because every step forward creates new possibilities for someone else. Most importantly, let us remember that growth is not something that happens to us. It is something we choose. We choose it when we invest in people. We choose it when we encourage rather than discourage. We choose it when we look beyond what we do not have and begin building with what we do.

So wherever you are today—whether you lead a large Group, a small Group, or simply support a young person on their journey—remember this: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Because the future of Scouting, and in many ways the future of South Africa, will not be shaped only by those who have the most. It will be shaped by those who choose to grow—and who make it their life’s work to enable the growth of others.