From Theory to Practice: My Mission as a Coach with Life Project 4 Youth

By Norhan Sonny, Coach in TDC Taguig (Philippines)

Norhan at the Nakati City Jail

I began my mission as a Coach with Life Project 4 Youth on May 13th, 2025. As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Community Development, this opportunity holds profound meaning for me. It allowed me to finally serve within an international organization that actively promotes the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, principles I once studied in theory and now live out in practice. Working alongside international catalysts and committed professionals has been both humbling and deeply fulfilling.

During my first month as a Coach at the TDC Taguig, I found myself both inspired and challenged.

I was initially overwhelmed by the organizational culture, particularly the strong emphasis on the learn by doing approach.

While this method was not entirely unfamiliar, having practiced learn by doing and teach by showing during my college years, the LP4Y environment required me to unlearn certain habits and embrace a more immersive and action-oriented way of accompanying Youth. This shift pushed me beyond my comfort zone and reshaped my understanding of effective learning and leadership.

Serving as a Project Coordinator, LP4Y taught me invaluable lessons in professional connection and collaboration.

I learned how to engage with people not only with competence, but with empathy, accountability, and respect.

One of the most challenging yet formative roles I undertook was serving as Mobilization Captain. Mobilization in Taguig presented unique difficulties due to its distinct context and realities. The experience tested my resilience, adaptability, and leadership, but it also strengthened my commitment to the mission of reaching the most vulnerable Youth.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my journey as a Coach has been facilitating training sessions at the Makati City Jail. Listening to the stories of Persons Deprived of Liberty, their lives, struggles, and circumstances prior to incarceration deeply moved me. Their narratives reshaped my perspective, teaching me to be more compassionate, open minded, and grounded in humanity rather than judgment. These encounters reminded me that behind every statistic is a human story worthy of dignity and understanding.

Recently, we organized a Christmas celebration inside the jail after months of pausing the training sessions due to conflicting schedules. When I returned on December 13, 2025, I was met with warm embraces from the PDLs. According to the wardens, they had been waiting every Saturday, hoping that the sessions would resume. That moment reaffirmed the impact of our presence and the importance of consistency in accompaniment. We now look forward with hope to resuming the sessions by February next year.

Norhan at a Concentrix Event

Working with Youth as a Coach requires immense emotional strength and courage. Each young person carries a story, often marked by hardship, neglect, and injustice, yet each story deserves to be heard. I often reflect that if these voices were truly listened to by government institutions, there would be a deeper understanding of the realities faced by many young people in the Philippines today.

As a Youth myself, and as someone who once came from an underprivileged background, I see my own story reflected in theirs. This shared experience fuels my dedication and strengthens my belief in the transformative power of accompaniment, opportunity, and hope. Through Life Project 4 Youth, I am not only serving others but also continually being shaped into a more compassionate, resilient, and purpose-driven individual.