LP4Y in the press...

Article from Manille Bienvenue

March 2010

Interview with Laure Demeure and Jean-Marc Delaporte

Laure and Jean-Marc, for those who do not know them already, have the most generous of spirits, combined with a sense of adventure and the ability to create ties wherever they go .. these and other qualities too numerous to mention have allowed them to set up assistance programs for disadvantaged young people in the Philippines. And it is amusing to note that their 2 surnames are Delaporte and Demeure: ‘Porte’ meaning ‘door’ and ‘Demeure’ meaning ‘dwelling’ in French – Who can say that they were not predestined to build something?

Tell us how it all began

From 2003 – 2008 Jean-Marc was President of one of the major associations in Paris which helps victims of social exclusion. Every day the 14 centres and their 200 employeeswelcome over 1000 such victims and offer them material and moral assistance. The association operates welcome centres and offershelp to those attempting to get back into a working environment.

And then last year, for 10 months, we travelled the world to meet with young street people, from Istanbul to Jerusalem, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Manila, Yogyakarta, Tokyo, Lima, La Paz, Sao Paolo, Dakar, Rabat... We saw the despair in the eyes of these young people, and yet we met with great friendship and felt a great sense of connection at each exchange.

Gradually we became aware of some kind of intuition, developing into a conviction : that these young victims of exclusion and misery could become entrepreneurs, if only someone would take the trouble to give them attention, confidence and support.

So we began researching the worldwide phenomenon of excluded young people, collecting information from the major international associations such as the UN, ILO (International Labour Organisation) ... From this we learned that there are over 500 million excluded young people throughout the world, including 300 million young people who work but earn less than 2$ a day. In another 15 years that figure will be 1 billion.

We therefore need to do something urgently to help this excluded young people.

What is your chosen field?

Young people aged 14-22, whether enrolled at school or not, who are considered excluded from society (in conflict with the law, victims of violence and misery).

What can you offer them in real terms?

We have created 2 charitable associations in France and Belgium to raise funds and to develop partnerships which will provide long-term support for the pilot projects of the Philippine foundation LP4Y (Life Project for Youth).

We have developed two different approaches :

1.Programs to assist social and professional reinsertion by developing a worthwhile activity with the young people, such as Green Program (see below)

2.Life Project Centres, set up in disadvantaged areas, which will attract young people and provide them with practical training enabling them to develop Micro-economic initiatives. The aim is to respond as required to the different demands of the young people.

Tell us about Green Program ?

Green Program is a program set up to assist 12 excluded young people to achieve social and professional integration (others will join them in due course).

The youngsters are introduced straight away to a real live project, creating a home delivery company specialising in fruit and vegetables.

The team of young people goes through the various stages of setting up a business, guided, advised and tutored by Life Project 4 Youth (a Philippine NGO which manages and finances the program).

You can imagine how many different situations exist within this small business, from the process of selecting the team, to assigning roles within the sales team, in logistics or administration; situations which have to be planned, analysed, set up and then adjusted with care.

The goal in developing this activity is to encourage the creativity and initiative of the young people, and to provide them with an environment in which they can become independent and regain confidence in themselves and in others, and learn to believe in a better future.

How can we help?

By becoming a Green Program client and ordering fresh fruit and vegetables which will be delivered to you weekly, in palm leaf baskets. When youparticipate in this program you are helping to provide a weekly income to the young people, to cover expenses such as rent, food, toiletries, clothing, and to allow them to set aside money to help their families.But more importantly it allows them to believe in a better future, to become independent and ultimately actors for development in their own countries.

What do Green Program clients say?

”What started out as kind of a favour to a friend is now a very handy way of getting my fruit and vegetables delivered on my doorstep every Tuesday. A great service while helping a very good cause at the same time. Just love their very juicy oranges and mangoes. The staff that come to the house are very dedicated and clearly eager to learn and improve; even doing some after sales. Keep up the good work!

How will I ever survive in the 'real' world again, where I will have to carry it all myself?”

Marion Vermeulen

“I’ve been a Green Program client since they began, and I love the idea. After a slow start and a few hiccups concerning the quality of the vegetables, I now find the service excellent.

Ordering is easy, deliveries correct and on time, the fruit and vegetables fresh and the prices reasonable. The delivery team is polite and becoming increasingly professional.

WELL DONE GREEN PROGRAM – I wish you continued success !”

Nadège Scriabine