Figure 1.--Here we see a Catholic Scout group in Argentina. I'm not sure when the photograph was taken. |
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Youth movements are relatively underdeveloped in Latin America. The only exception is Cuba where membership in the Young Pioneers is virtually mandatory. There are small Scout organizations in each Latin American country. Reflecting the middle-class origin of Scouting, few boys in most countries are able to participate. As far as we can tell, Scouting is a relatively small movement throughout Latin America. The largest Scouting organization appears to be Argentina. The only country with a mass youth movement is the Cuba with its virtually compulsory Young Pioneer organization. Hopefully our Latin American readers will provide us some information about youth groups in their countries.
The largest Scouting organization in Latin America appears to be Argentina. As far as we know Scouting is the only importangt uniformed youth group. We have few details on Argentinde Scouting. There appears to be a separate Catholic Scouting association. We are not sure if any other youth groups have been active in Argentina. There does appear to be a popular youth hostel movement in Argentina.
We have very limited information on Bolivia, but notice a nationalist youth program. We assume that there is a Scouting movement, but we know nothing about it as this time.
Brazil is the largest, most populous country in Latin America. Unlike most other Latin American countries, which speak Spanish, the Brazilians as a former Portuguese territory speak Portuguese. The only Brazilian youth group we know of is Scouting.
We have very limited information on youth organizations in Chile. We notice some information on Scouting.
Cuba had a small Scouting movemnent. We know little about its history. It would have been founded after independence from Spain. We notice a unifirm with knickers like the United States rather than short pants like the British. The knickers don't seem in keeping with the tropical climate. Castro seized power in 1959 promidsing a return to democracy. Instead he imposed a Communist dictatorship. As in other Communist countries, the Communists abolished the Scouting movement. Scouting with its independent, family based program was not in keeping with thre Cimmunist desire to control the formation and education of young peope. The only Latin American country with a mass youth movement is the Cuba with its virtually compulsory Young Pioneer organization. We know very little about the Young Pioneer Movement in Cuba. The uniform affears to be the same as the compulsory school uniform.
We note a Mexican Scout association. It seems to be popular with the growing Mexican middle class. The Mexican Scout Association (Asociación de Scout de México A.C.) was founded in Puerto de Veracruz during 1912. The early growth of the Scout movement in Mexico was hampered by the poverty in rural areas and the Revolution of the 1910s. The Revolution occurred just as the movement was beginning to develop in most countries. The Asociación was recognized by the World Scout Movement es reconocida por la Organización Mundial del Movimiento Scout in August 1926 after Mexico had entered a more traquil period of its history. We know of no other uniformed youth groups in Mexico.
We know very little about Peruvian youth groups. We think that is primarily because there are very few such movements and the ones that do exit have a very small membership. This probably refldcts the fact that Peru is a relatively poor country. The principal youth groups are the Scouts and Guides which are separate associtions, although the boys and girls seem to wear similar uniforms. We have not yet found information about any other youth groups in Peru. Scouts and Guides are an essentially middle-class movement and the groups tend to be small in countries like Peru with low-incom levels and small middle classes. Hopefully Peruvian readers can provide us more information.
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