Once a cornerstone of youth development, the Boy Scouts seem to have all but vanished from Saint Lucia. Yet, other classic youth organisations like the Girl Guides and the Cadet Corps have quietly persisted – still building young people up and still quietly shaping the future, even as they work through a few growing pains.
Decades ago, these groups were staples of community life. It was hard to go far without spotting a uniform, badges stitched neatly into place. Today, however, the scene has shifted.
The Boy Scouts, once one of the most recognisable youth organisations in the country, appear to have faded out of the picture entirely. Efforts to connect with the group or confirm its current operations have been unsuccessful, and no one seems to know for certain if the organisation is still active in any formal way.
But while some long-standing groups have quietly disappeared, others are finding ways to press on, though the path forward isn’t always easy.
For the Girl Guides Association of Saint Lucia, 2025 is a big year. The group is celebrating its 100th anniversary, an impressive milestone that speaks to its enduring relevance. But like many long-standing institutions, it has had to adapt.
“The numbers have decreased significantly,” said Chief Commissioner Lydia Charlemagne, reflecting on the past few decades. “In the 80s and 90s, we had over 40 units. Then COVID hit, and by the end of it, we were down to one.”
That one unit, however, wasn’t the end. Today, the movement has bounced back to seven active units, with around 156 girls participating. The interest, Charlemagne said, has never really gone away.
“Girls are still interested in Girl Guides,” she said. “We’ve done a lot to revise the programme so it stays relevant. And every time we engage with the girls, we see how much they enjoy it.”
Guiding today still leans on traditional values such as character, service, respect, but with a modern twist. Activities now include leadership training, skills development, team building and community projects. The aim, Charlemagne explained, is to help girls grow into strong, thoughtful, capable women.
And in many ways, the challenge now is not about the girls at all; it’s about the grown-ups.
“There’s no shortage of interest from young people,” she said. “The real issue is finding adult leaders. We’ve had girls ready to start a new unit but couldn’t because there was no one to lead.”
The Association is calling on women from all professions and backgrounds to consider becoming leaders. Training is provided, both locally and through international networks. Volunteers don’t need to be teachers. In fact, the group is actively encouraging women from all walks of life to join in.
“We want doctors, farmers, lawyers, artists – everyone has something to offer,” said Charlemagne. “All you really need is a willingness to show up and help.”
Over in the Cadet Corps, the picture is similar. Post-COVID, the group saw its highest ever intake of new recruits, according to Major Adjutant Sean Wells.
“We’ve been getting about 200 to 250 new cadets annually,” he said. “That’s a strong number. The real challenge is keeping them all the way to Form Five.”
With students facing packed exam schedules and mounting schoolwork, many drop out of the programme in the later years. But the Corps continues to offer what it always has: structure, service and the chance to lead.
“We focus on leadership, discipline, and giving back,” Wells explained. Cadets participate in everything from hikes and flag ceremonies to community service projects and voluntary relief efforts after disasters. “We don’t get paid. It’s about service, and the cadets really embrace that.”
As with the Girl Guides, the Cadet Corps is also in need of more adult support, especially at the school level. Unit officers, usually teachers or volunteers, help run sessions and guide cadets through their development. Wells said finding people willing to give that time has become more difficult.
Still, neither organisation is standing still. Both are pressing forward, determined to stay open and available to the young people who need them. Whether it’s a Girl Guide promising to live by the seven guiding laws or a Cadet marching in uniform at a national ceremony, the spirit of these groups endures.
