Helping young people rebuild their confidence through attentive listening and concrete action lies at the heart of Philippe’s commitment.
A lawyer, business leader, and accredited mediator, Philippe has built a rich and diverse career at the intersection of law, management, and human relations. Accustomed to supporting others, making decisions, resolving complex situations, and fostering dialogue, he has always maintained a deep commitment to ensuring that everyone has a place and a role in society.
It was this sensitivity that naturally led him to coaching. When he discovered YouthStart, he was immediately drawn to the program’s mission: helping young people facing challenges rebuild their confidence and regain their momentum. It felt like a natural fit for someone who deeply believes in the potential of every individual.
For more than ten years, Philippe has been part of the YouthStart journey. Over a decade spent working alongside young people, teams, and partners, driven by the same unwavering motivation: to help uncover talents that are too often overlooked or underestimated.
From the very beginning of his career, one observation particularly struck Philippe: a tremendous amount of potential remains untapped in many young people. Behind their doubts, difficult life paths, or lack of direction, he sees genuine abilities that simply need to be recognized, nurtured, and encouraged.
Over the course of the sessions, Philippe also encounters personal realities that are often challenging: family breakdowns, school disengagement, vulnerable home situations, and a lack of self-confidence. Yet above all, he recognizes a fundamental and universal need: the need to be seen in a positive light. To be viewed as more than one’s difficulties. To be valued for one’s strengths, resources, and potential.
This, in Philippe’s view, is where the strength of YouthStart lies: helping young people regain momentum. Through practical workshops, hands-on activities, and empowering experiences, they gradually become aware of their own abilities. The core principles, he explains, have remained unchanged since the beginning: rebuilding confidence by putting young people into action.
For Philippe, this experience has also been profoundly enriching on a personal level. YouthStart has given him a deeper understanding of today’s young people, their challenges, aspirations, and often unseen struggles. It also provides him with a deeply rewarding sense of purpose: the feeling that he is making a meaningful difference.
Among the many memories that have stayed with him, one remark continues to resonate deeply. A young participant once told him that he had started getting up in the morning again because he wanted to attend the YouthStart training. Behind those simple words lay a remarkable achievement: rediscovering a reason to get up, a sense of momentum, and a renewed direction in life.
After all these years, Philippe remains guided by the same conviction: when young people are offered a listening ear, a supportive environment, and the opportunity to take action, they can reconnect with their own strengths and move forward with confidence.
When asked to describe YouthStart in just three words, Philippe’s response is immediate:
”Listening. Action. Empowerment.
