“I hope I am and will continue to inspire personal growth and give a safety net for trial and error”

Elisaveta Lukanovska is a dynamic force driving positive change as the International Commissioner for Sojuz na Izvidnici na Makedonija, North Macedonia's National Scout Organization. Studying Veterinary medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Skopje, Elisaveta not only responds to the needs of animals but also nurtures her community through her involvement in the youth sector, including the student organisation IVSA Skopje, where she served as an Exchange Office. With a history spanning 16 years in scouting, Elisaveta has left an indelible mark on her organisation, championing initiatives locally, nationally and on the international stage.

I joined scouting around 16 years ago, and since then, it has always been a part of my life in one way or another. My natural growth in the movement went from being a part of a Scout patrol to being a leader of one. Alongside my Scout friends and peers, I started getting more serious responsibilities within my unit Metodi Mitevski - Brico in Skopje. I was more active locally, sometimes leading to the misconception that that work is not seen. I have always been fascinated by the international dimension of the scouting movement, yet I wasn't aware of the opportunities ahead of me. Our previous International Commissioner, Jane, and Secretary General, Vlatko, approached me at the beginning of 2020, first proposing to be a young delegate for the World Scout Conference in 2021. At that moment, I felt very seen and appreciated. As we all know, the pandemic changed the course of all processes, including that one. The following period was very hectic for the movement and our National Scout Organization as well, and we have just elected the youngest National Board in the history of our National Scout Organization. It took a bit of trust and support on their side to appoint me and a lot of learning on mine to become (a bit more) confident in the role. I think it was all a series of very fortunate events.

 

I have always been amazed by the fact that there are people around every corner of the world who share the same values and interests as me and my friends. Interestingly, we all live by the Scout Law and enjoy the Scout programme, yet we have so much more to learn from each other. International scouting isn’t only travel and meet-ups; often, it means advocating for your Scouts in big rooms where sometimes you don’t have the same needs as the other National Scout Organizations. That has made me more capable of standing up for myself and my Scouts. Since I became involved in international scouting, I have tried promoting global understanding among young people. As the point of contact between my organisation and others and the global movement, I focus on fostering mutual understanding, organising international events and exchanges to enrich our Scouts' experiences, and strengthening our ties with other scouting organisations worldwide.

Can you share a specific example of how scouting has positively impacted your personal and leadership development and how you hope to instil similar growth opportunities for Scouts? Scouting has greatly influenced my personal growth and confidence in my abilities. As an introverted child, it was very helpful for me that Scouts quickly became friends, and you always have something in common; I have found MY people. Scouting and my roles in the unit and the organisation have put me in many positions and facing challenges that I would have never imagined or put myself in. And it’s the best way to learn.

 

From being responsible for a patrol of Scouts to organising events, becoming a pro in official email etiquette, making up a speech on the spot, writing reports, speaking on public television, writing projects, making a fool of myself hosting a festival in front of thousands of people, multitasking and working in different diverse teams… You learn many things that help you go a long way, even outside of scouting. The most recent opportunity for personal and leadership growth was the Head of Contingent role for the World Scout Jamboree. That meant being responsible for a contingent of 47 people. It might not seem like such a big deal, but our Contingent Management Team did an amazing job with the overall communication, coordination and crisis management. It wasn’t perfect, and mistakes were made, but it is important that scouting gives you a platform and space to learn by doing! It is a safe space to fail and a community to support you and get you back up! I hope I am and will continue contributing to creating opportunities for Scouts to be put outside of their comfort zone - all while being there to back them up when needed. As an organisation, we are trying to do that by being as involved as possible in joint events, programmes, and projects and sharing updates and good practices with Scouts all over. 

 

There are a lot of examples of successful international scouting initiatives and projects that are always different and a joy to work on. I am more comfortable and have more experience in regional cooperation in the Balkans- since there are more opportunities for initiatives. However, I always try to motivate and find ways for other international relations. A project I am very proud we took part in and was a 3-year success was the Trinational project with SDGF (France) and DPSG (Germany). Scouts from France, Germany and North Macedonia had the chance to experience scouting in camps in the three countries. A big learning outcome from that experience is that Scouts need as much international experience as possible, camping and respecting each others’ scouting traditions, daily routines and rules. It is the best way to discover the diversity and celebrate the different approaches to the same scouting experiences.

The best recipe for great cooperation and collaboration amongst Scouts is always to remember that it is the people who make the connections; it is not a corporate agreement. All International Commissioners know that sometimes you must officialise some partnerships, but it is still a result of a connection made on a human Scout-to-Scout basis.  As an International Commissioner, I always try to promote the international dimension of scouting as a movement. Often the easiest thing to promote amongst Scouts are international events, yet we must remember that international scouting continues even between those. It is in every WhatsApp group that stays active after events; it is in every call when you visit each other's country, in catching up and sharing experiences, asking for good practices and lessons learnt on different topics, in making the time and devoting energy to speak English even after a long day of hard work on training, it is in communicating outside the scouting activities and taking the extra step to make everyone feel a part of the community... I always emphasise that and promote international cooperation beyond the events and shared camps. 

 

I have trouble answering questions about my "legacy" cause it sounds very big, serious and meaningful. I love to keep the thought that scouting stays with you till the end days; that has been the example set for me by the closest of my scout family and everyone I have followed and learned from. When I was a Scout, I admired the leaders and those organising the events, and I thought they had the answers to everything, plus a magic wand. As you grow in the movement, you don’t realise that you slowly become that person for the other Scouts. I hope I am and will continue to inspire personal growth and give a safety net for trial and error. I hope I can help create a space for growth, international connections and friendships!