DIANA SLABU

Quality Support To Member Organisations

Diana Slabu

National Organisation of the Romanian Scouts

The right capacity for the right needs

The regional structure is seen by many of our members as a “safety net”. In the past years, there have been more and more requests for support in moments of change, transition, or crisis, and the region has been providing specific guidance on topics where sufficient expertise inside the organisation might be lacking.

This kind of support has been extremely important in bringing know-how, building capacity, offering support to National Board Members, to volunteers involved at national level in their organisations, but also to people involved in executive structures. A growing number of WOSM consultants have been trained to support Member Organisations in the region in the past years, and in addition to this, Growth Potential Project consultants, regional staff and project managers, as well as committee members and regional volunteers are constantly providing much-needed expertise to help navigate the hardest of challenges that our members face.

Long Term Support

Another role of the region that I find essential is that of being a “fertile ground”, where new ideas and initiatives can flourish, find the needed support, and challenge the status quo. Innovation requires us to step out of our comfort zone, and creating opportunities to connect with experts, partners and peers as we step into the unknown is an element in which we need to constantly invest. Membership development and subsequent growth poses unique challenges to each organisation, based on their structures, cultural conditioning and the societies they function in. The support we offer must, therefore, be adapted to each organisation and its particularities. Our region should increase its capacity to deliver long-term support as well as targeted one, to more of our Member Organisations that need it.

Connecting the Dots

Last but not least, the role of the region is to help “connect the dots”. In this aspect, regional committee members have a unique positioning that ensures that they can support Member Organisations in a systemic, holistic way, by being bridges between the available resources and the needs of our members, which may vary from very specific to complex and multi-faceted.

In the next triennium, I see our region becoming even more efficient and committed to supporting Member Organisations in reaching their full potential, amplifying their impact and opening their doors. Through its triple role as a safety net, a fertile ground for innovation and a platform for interconnected support, the region fosters the transformative experiences offered to young persons everywhere.