An employment skills program for at-risk youth is up and running again after re-gaining its funding for a year and setting out a new course of action.
A Chance to Choose will continue to offer employment skills training and certificate programs out of a Port Moody office but youth will learn how to develop their own business instead of fundraising for community projects.
Coordinator Evelyn Humphreys said the program will still teach youth food safe and first-aid, interviewing and resume writing techniques but participants will learn about agriculture, entrepreneurship and bringing produce to market, as well. They'll be expected to operate a business using a community garden in Port Coquitlam as a base.
The program is operating on reduced Service Canada funding with a year-long contract and fewer employees but Humphreys said the arrangement works because the young people who are being accepted are slightly older and better able to work on their own.
She's also looking at developing partnerships to raise funds. For example, A Chance to Choose has a partnership with Cob's Bread in Suter Brook in Port Moody where partial proceeds to go to the program when shoppers mention they are supporters.
"We're looking for anyway to be sustainable," Humphreys said.
Tomorrow, Friday, Chance to Choose is breaking ground at the garden located at 2420 Mary Hill at the former Women's Resource Centre operated by Tri-City Transitions. Twelve young people have been accepted into this intake.
For more information, contact 604-931-5889.
