Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard announced $275,000 Thursday for the expansion of two youth programs in Nova Scotia.

Most of that will go to a province-wide youth outreach program to hire five outreach workers. They will be based in Whitney Pier, Preston, Dartmouth, Truro, and Kentville.

John Wolodka was on the verge of tears during the announcement. In his younger years, the vice-chair of the Whitney Pier Boys and Girls Club was a youth at risk.

"I was on the cusp on many occasions," he says.

Wolodka says the club was a safe haven and he credits it for his success and confidence.

"It's always the safe place you could go if you are ever in trouble or needed help or were scared."

Bernard also announced a $25,000 grant for the Educational Program Innovations Charity (EPIC) Youth Peer Centre in Sydney.

The grant goes toward recruiting and training volunteers, and to study EPIC's impact on young people, such as 12-year-old Tyrese Whitall.

"When I came here first time in Grade 2, my grades weren't really good and now I'm third highest grade in my class," he says.

Before coming to EPIC, the boy was kicked out of school for fighting and was held back a year because of poor grades.

Now he says he is a changed person: "My attitude, my grades, my grade smarts ... my reading definitely that changed."

Angelina Tortola, 10, says the center is very welcoming.

"It would be really hard for me to study if I hadn't here to come because they are so helpful and they are very nice when you come here," she says.

Wesley Peddle, 10, says it is fun: "I'm pretty sure the rest will agree, when we are having a bad day, this is the one thing that can never go wrong."

The youth peer program is located downstairs at the Sydney Adult High School. It's an after-school initiative for youth at risk ages 8-18.

EPIC is a registered charitable organization, operating since 1996.