The Community Max programme was introduced last year, targeting unskilled 16- to 24-year-olds whose chances of getting work are limited.
A $40.3 million fund administered by Work and Income was used to support up to 3000 places on community projects. The money went towards a six-month wage subsidy, for 30 hours a week, and a training component, worth $1250 for each person.
Regional labour market manager Paul Casson said 25 young Dunedin people were involved in six projects through the programme.
One group was working for the Dunedin City Council carrying out track maintenance and cleaning graffiti, four groups were working for the Malcam Charitable Trust carrying out building maintenance and gardening while the other was part of the Otago Polytechnic's Living Campus project.
Four young Dunedin people began building gardens for the project in January and will finish in July.
Team leader Michelle Ritchie said the polytechnic applied to the Community Max programme at the end of last year, as the Living Campus project should benefit from the extra hands.
Along with creating a landscaped vegetable garden on the corner of Harbour Tce and St David St, a garden bed was planted with vegetables and beds were installed outside the Technique Restaurant.
Students and staff would be able to take vegetables and herbs from the gardens on a monitored basis and the restaurant used some of the produce in its kitchen, she said.
Having the help of four young men was "amazing" because of the amount of energy they brought to the project.
Mike Shaw said being part of the programme was "quite cool".
Before becoming involved, he was on a Department of Conservation course and was interested in a career in horticulture.
Through the Community Max programme, he was also studying horticultural papers at the polytechnic and he would like to see more similar programmes.
Supervisor Jenny Hayden said the programme had "more teeth" than others because the workers were being paid, which strengthened their dedication.
Fellow supervisor Trish Scott said she was pleased to see their confidence "skyrocket" and knew their chances of finding full-time work had improved.
"When you are working, it's easier to get a job."
