Jen Harrison wipes tears from her eyes.

After 13 years, the Pathway Project, a busy employment agency helping youth in the West Shore, is closing in mid-August. A casualty of federal cuts, the loss slams the door on both the community and the people they want to serve, said Harrison, community co-ordinator for WorkLink, the parent organization to Pathway.

B次元官网网址淲e want youth to vote, we want youth to be involved in their communities, we want youth to have a voice so we can create inclusive places to grow and develop,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲hen we close these places down, we send the opposite message.B次元官网网址�

Participants are between 15 and 30, are not in school and are out of work. Pathway sees them paid minimum wage to go through programming aimed at building their skills and confidence. They also learn first aid, take the FoodSafe course and learn customer service as a way to get into or return to the workforce.

B次元官网网址淚t is very hard to explain why places like this have to close, especially when everything around them (here) is growing,B次元官网网址� Harrison said. (This program) is considered a success by youth and politicians, municipally, provincially and federally. We hit our stats, we do our deliverables. We deliver, but it closes and I donB次元官网网址檛 understand why.B次元官网网址�

Randy Waldie, co-ordinator for the Langford-based Pathway Project, may also lose his job in the process. He said the 16-week program has helped hundreds of people, a fact that show opportunities like this are needed more, not less.

B次元官网网址淭he demand far outstrips what anyone is able to provide right now, and right now there is nothing (else),B次元官网网址� he said.

He said Service Canada no longer has a youth hiring program. B次元官网网址淲hat is a youth going to do to get a resume or a little direction with a little help, let alone all the barriers our youth here deal with?B次元官网网址�

Many people who walk through their doors at Pathway have barriers in their lives that make finding a job more difficult, Waldie said. Staff help them work through feelings of anxiety, depression, lack of work experience, addiction and health issues.

The program provides both structure and support, helping people like 21-year old Melissa Page, who graduated out of the program a month ago.

B次元官网网址淚 was really shy, I had been dealing with depression and wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to put myself out there,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey challenged us in many different ways and when it was hard, they would take me aside and help me. (They) really understand everyoneB次元官网网址檚 needs. It gave me the confidence I needed to get out here.B次元官网网址�

The Langford resident hadnB次元官网网址檛 been working for almost two years when she decided to give Pathway a shot and now enjoys her receptionist job at Chatters hair salon.

B次元官网网址淚t makes me really upset, because the program has been around for 13 years and helped me,B次元官网网址� she said of the funding cut. B次元官网网址淵outh in general have a hard time finding work and it helps us get to where we need to go ... to hear that people are not going to be there is distressing.B次元官网网址�

The program, which costs approximately $435,000 a year, sees $211,000 of the funds for minimum wage, 30 hours per week for participants. The rest goes to administration including rent and staff.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison said it is a good investment and has seen the program in action, having met young participants as they went through in the past.

He called the move the wrong cut at the wrong time.

B次元官网网址淚t has been a great success at getting at-risk youth into jobs or back into school and that has to be one of our highest priorities,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know they get at least three times the applicants than they can take B次元官网网址� If you help get at-risk youth now, it will actually save you money down the road.B次元官网网址�

Waldie, who still takes calls about program placement, doesnB次元官网网址檛 know where to go from here.

B次元官网网址淚 am very sad, because there are less and less (services) for youth, particularly youth that are vulnerable B次元官网网址� there is just nothing. Nothing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧arents, social workers and youth are calling every day about the next intake, (but) there will be no next intake.B次元官网网址�

alim@vicnews.com