CLÉMENT HARDEL

Coach of TOTO 2 program, India, 2019

“170 days is enough for me to realize that I’m experiencing something inexplicable and unexplained, a sort of adventure in which each day is likely to bring something new and in which the word “routine” does not exist, where emotions are intensified and where what is true one day isn’t necessarily true the next. 170 days in which to think hard about yourself, others, the world. Days that remind you why you‘re here, on the other side of the world, far from the comfort of all that is familiar, from family and friends, from habits and a day-to-day existence that was becoming oppressive. 170 days in which to understand, learn, open up, exchange, share, read, discover, travel, breathe, reflect, love, put things into proportion, smile, cry, laugh and live.”

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LISA BONNION

Coach du programme Yummy, Inde, 2017  -  Coach du programme Deco Me, Philippines, 2018 - Leader du Green Village Mékong, Vietnam, 2019

“My contact with the Youth has taught me to trust, to have faith in myself and to be firm while retaining the ability to reexamine myself. When you’re a coach you have to make 15 decisions a minute, support the Youth in their Life Projects, give them confidence, and room to develop … This year strengthened my belief that challenges, caring and humor are the keys to a positive pedagogy. This experience has given me the strength to continue coaching, this time in the Philippines. I see this mission as a new challenge: getting to know new Young Adults, learning to work together in a new environment with new cultural codes, and above all, succeeding once more in developing a coaching system that combines high standards, appreciation of the Youth and team spirit!”

CAMILLE FORTIN

Coach du programme Aurora, Philippines, 2017

“I quickly grew attached to the Young Mothers at the Center. I got to know them, and learnt how to challenge them. I was demanding, caring and good humored as I helped them grow and take control of their lives. I will always remember their joy, their smiles, and their incredible resilience. I still ask myself how it is possible to give so much when one has so little. At the Center I discovered a micro-economic activity, but also a community. When we’re out of our comfort zone we are sometimes tested to our limit, but the love of the Youth bound us together and gave us the strength to persevere. This has been an unforgettable year, intense, overwhelming … I am so grateful for the responsibilities I was given and the trust shown by LP4Y!”

LUCIE TAURINES

Coach - Responsable Partenariats - Coordinatrice Philippines  Aujourd'hui, vice-présidente de LP4Y Paris

“When I arrived in the Philippines for my LP4Y mission, 3½ years ago, I knew nothing about poverty, the poverty that exists in certain countries affecting certain populations, and I knew nothing about the lives of the Young Adults, the same age as me, living the other side of the world …

And I met Young Adults who had nothing, who lived in conditions we can’t even imagine and yet, who had hearts filled with a joy we cannot begin to understand. I was looking for meaning, and they were looking to meet their most basic needs: shelter, food for one day, clothing …

I was brought face to face with my own barriers, my own limits. Life on a mission is extraordinary, because when you live and work with the Youth, the barriers within you come crashing down, and your outlook on the world changes. You undergo a transformation in the way you approach the world and life itself.

I – Immersion in a new world and discovering poverty. On my mission I learnt about poverty and all its contradictions: The reality of the hunger that nags at the guts of the Youth, who can’t make it through the day because they’ve just had one meagre meal that day; the lack of health coverage and the exorbitant medical expenses that can plunge a family into debt for generations, condemning them to abject poverty; the appalling conditions in the slums, and the Filipinos whose reaction is to laugh and say “It’s raining in my house; the violence of the typhoons that in 2 hours can destroy the basic dwellings; the reality of prostitution, just to pay an electricity bill; the sexual abuse suffered by young children that barely raises an eyebrow in the slums; the drugs to help forget life’s hardships.

2 – An LP4Y volunteer. What I learnt: I learnt to make mistakes and I learnt what it means to work on a development project. I learnt to meet new people without prejudging, without preconceived expectations.

I learnt that giving and helping doesn’t work.

I learnt what it meant to support / guide / share with the Youth, and the incalculable value of listening and sharing when it comes to LP4Y’s pedagogy.

I learnt to live and work with it, plunging deep into another culture.

I learnt to live the simple life, and to appreciate the freedom that gives!

I learnt to submerge myself, living and loving a country and a culture which won me over with its powerful and honest outlook on life.

I learnt smiling from the Filipinos, along with taking joy in simple moments, resilience, hospitality, generosity, joie de vivre.

I leant from my mistakes, I learnt patience and humility.

I learnt that being a volunteer is not about being a super hero, claiming to know everything, solving all problems as a Westerner might see it, instead it’s about giving the best of oneself, even when you can’t see the results, hoping that the Youth will, in turn, give the best of themselves, defying the odds which seemed to destine them for hell.

I learnt the importance of teamwork and living in community with the other volunteers, I got to meet extraordinary people, with huge hearts who astonished me with their caring, their generosity, their passions and their love for others.

When you go on a mission you are agreeing to let yourself be transformed, touched by the missions, by a country’s culture, by the contact with others. Above all,

I learnt to open myself to others and to the Youth. To consider them as adults, as equals, and that was the key to everything …”

LILAS VERRON

Coach - Project Leader Pedagogical Development & Coaching, Inde, 2018 & Myanmar, 2019

« Les 6 premiers mois, j’étais coach d’une équipe de 17 Jeunes dans un des centres LP4Y à Delhi en Inde. Je travaillais avec eux sur leur projet de vie, et les accompagnais dans leur chemin vers l’intégration professionnelle. La mission de coach demande beaucoup d’organisation car elle est très polyvalente. Nos missions consistent à coacher les Jeunes individuellement et en équipe, donner des trainings (anglais, informatique, communication professionnelle), développer des partenariats, aider les Jeunes à gérer un micro-business et bien sûr gérer le budget du programme.Cette mission est très riche sur le plan humain, et l’on voit au quotidien l’impact de son engagement ce qui est vraiment motivant. Les 6 mois suivants on m’a confié la mission de Project Leader Partnerships and Pedagogy, pour accompagner les coachs sur ces deux sujets. Former les coachs, créer des outils, prendre du recul pour trouver des pistes d’amélioration… Cette mission au sein de l’équipe de coordination m’a permis d’avoir une vision d’ensemble de l’action de LP4Y. »

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Texte en entier

Aileen Salin

Coach du programme Communty Champions of Change, Inde, 2019/2020

Choosing to volunteer for LP4Y is accepting to jump in the unknown. We are not chosen based on our professional skills or knowledge about the country where we will be sent to. Instead, it is our human qualities and our will to have a positive impact that are evaluated. As a result, most of us have few to zero information before arriving on the field. It was my case. 

My ignorance, my lack of self confidence and my will to be as good as possible pushed me to ask hundreds of questions during the Welcome Weeks and during my first weeks in Chennai. Yet, there were still so many questions left without answers and situations where I felt helpless: could this Youth find a better job than this one? Would they accept this behaviour in an Indian company? Should I intervene to help this Youth who will soon be forced to marry? 

All this made me think that I was not being the best coach for my team. I felt lost several times and found myself thinking: Indian people would do a much better job than me at this. They know the job market better, they speak tamil and may know more more about the inequalities in their country.

Yet, today I realise that of course some of them would probably do a better job than me, and thousands of locals are already making their country better everyday. 

However, I now treasure my ignorance because it is the reason why my actions are always based on what I observe and learn on the field. I try to adapt to the field and not the opposite. 

Moreover, I might not be the most skilled one but I am certainly among the most motivated! Moving from your comfort zone to a Indian Slum takes a lot of will, determination and a strong urge to change the world.

I have been asked many times why I did not stay in France to do social work (I was working with homeless people). I could say that India being a poorer country than France, there are more needs but I don't think it's a good idea to rank poverty or needs.  Of course, there are many people in need in Europe, and I will probably end up working with them again in my life. The simple reality is that I wanted to live in Asia, I was craving for new adventures and new challenges. 

Volunteering for LP4Y definitely calls for a lot of humility and when you know nothing, you are forced to use your common sense and listen to ones on the field. This year reinforced my belief that books are good but will never replace what the concerned persons have to say. 

This is applicable in your home country as well as in a country where you know nothing. 

I might not be the best possible coach to the amazing women of my team, but I am doing my best and they know it for sure. I think it gives me all the legitimacy to be here.

THAÏS LUNEL

Coach du programme Eco Construction, Philippines, 2018 - Coordinatrice  Philippines, 2019

« Quand j'’ai rejoint LP4Y et le Green Village, j’ai immédiatement été séduite par l’atmosphère qui se dégage de cet endroit ! Le Green Village n’est pas seulement un centre de formation, c’est aussi un véritable lieu de vie et de partage où les jeunes, formateurs, volontaires mais aussi toute la communauté travaillent main dans la main pour le faire vivre ! Travailler au quotidien avec les Jeunes me procure une belle dose d’énergie et une bouffée de bonheur ! Face à leur motivation, leur entrain et leur force de résilience, on est poussé à donner le meilleur de nous-même. Et c’est un vrai cadeau de pouvoir être témoin de leur épanouissement et de leur progrès au sein de l’équipe. Cette mission est une vraie leçon de vie ! »

JULIEN VIDAL

Communication & Fundraising - Coordinateur Philippines, 2015

Extrait de son blog : « Avec LP4Y, j'ai pu grandir, expérimenter, rencontrer, découvrir, rire, échanger autant que j'aurais pu le faire en 2 vies (...). Sortir de sa zone de confort est toujours un peu effrayant au début mais pourtant, c'est, pour moi, le meilleur moyen de vraiment me sentir vivant. »

« Si je garde un aussi bon souvenir de mes expériences de volontariat, c'est en fait grâce à ma dernière mission aux Philippines avec l'ONG "Life Project 4 Youth". En effet, pendant plus de 2 ans, avec LP4Y, j'ai pu grandir, expérimenter, rencontrer, découvrir, rire, échanger autant que j'aurais pu le faire en 2 vies.

Le volontariat, c'est déjà ça, un accélérateur à émotions et à expériences. Tout est plus fort, tout est plus intense, tout est plus extraordinaire. Le quotidien prend des allures de roman et tous les jours, je me rendais compte de ma chance de vivre mes rêves, mes passions et mes convictions.

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Grâce à LP4Y, j'ai pu également rencontrer des gens merveilleux. Les jeunes d'abord qui sont le symbole de la fameuse résilience qui consiste à rebondir plus haut qu'avant la chute et d'avoir la force de pouvoir constamment se réinventer, s'améliorer et grandir. Ensuite, de pouvoir rencontrer les Philippins, qui chaque jour, dans leur pays, agissent pour ceux qui en ont le plus besoin et de voir comment on peut être un acteur d'un monde plus juste que ce soit dans le social ou dans l'entreprise. Enfin, les volontaires, qui eux décident de ne plus être le centre de leur vie mais plutôt de se mettre au service de l'autre et de se servir de cette envie comme une force inépuisable qui permet de surmonter toutes les surprises, les écarts, les chocs et les déconvenues de la vie en expatriation.

Et puis LP4Y, c'est une philosophie de vie façon Mark Twain:"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible, alors ils l'ont fait". Tellement de personnes ont été réticentes devant le projet de l'ONG et pourtant le principe de faire cohabiter des personnes différentes pour produire l'étincelle qui fera que ces jeunes exclus pourront s'en sortir est magique. Les volontaires, de par leur regard neuf, presque naïf, leur donnent en fait le terrain vierge sur lequel ces jeunes adultes, parfois complètement brisés, peuvent se réinventer et planter les graines de leur nouvelle vie.

Enfin, LP4Y c'est un état d'esprit encore inspiré d'un autre écrivain et qui m'accompagnera pour le restant de ma vie: "Il faut toujours viser la lune, car même en cas d'échec, on atterrit dans les étoiles" (Oscar Wilde). Ne pas se mettre de limites à nos projets, ne pas refréner nos rêves car les autres s'en occuperont pour nous. Je m'en rends d'ailleurs particulièrement compte de retour en France où, la plupart du temps, les gens freinent avant même de commencer à avancer.

Bref, ces 2 ans auront été pour moi remplis d'exemples de réussite, comme autant de leçons de vie sur lesquelles je peux désormais m'appuyer pour imaginer la vie que je , veux avoir et la propager autour de moi. Sortir de sa zone de confort est toujours un peu effrayant au début mais pourtant, c'est, pour moi, le meilleur moyen de vraiment me sentir vivant. »