Labor laws allow children as young as twelve years old to work in agriculture with their parent's consent. However, children of all ages can be found working in the fields.
SAF's Year in Review: 2018-2019
This year by the numbers:
5000 farmworkers reached through health through health, education and legal outreach by SAF interns & fellows
47 partners held actions, events, and rallies for National Farmworker Awareness Week, reaching over 1200 people
33 presentations & workshops given to 1786 students & community members about conditions farmworkers face, policy news, cultural arts, and the history of agriculture
25 years at SAF by SAF Executive Director Melinda Wiggins
Program Activities this year:
- Solidaridad interns organized events for National Farmworker Awareness Week, assisted with a hurricane relief drive, and helped to plan the NC Farmworker Institute
- Into the Fields interns & fellows worked in mobile health clinics, led know-your-rights trainings, taught English classes, and performed a play for farmworkers at 3 labor camps
- The Levante youth group created Voices From the Fields, an informational video series about occupational and mental health in a TV-show format
- From the Ground Up SAF alumni were trained and supported to present about farmworkers using documentary and popular education tools
Behind the scenes: New Projects
This year we...
Formed a policy team to track local and national policies affecting farmworkers and to plan actions, legislative visits, and lobby days for students and community members
Signed a 3 year contact with SAF’s Union, the Communication Workers of America AFL-CIO Local 83188
Supported a new alumni peer group of alumni working with farmworkers, Latinos, and immigrants in NC
Partnered with Duke Endowment through a 5-year grant that supports SAF in building partnerships with faith-based groups & developing the leadership of young people to work with the farmworker community
Partnered on Cultivating Justice, an exhibit and mural with artist Cornelio Campos, the Duke Campus Farm, and Duke professor Charlie Thompson & his students
"Home is the most beautiful thing we have, but sometimes we have to leave for a while. But it is worth it to be able to have a better life."
– Martín, NC Farmworker, 2019
"SAF allowed me to find a community where my roots were celebrated and respected. This community was composed of educated, hardworking, and inspiring people. It was beautiful to see others from Latino farmworking families and our allies come together to work towards a common cause‚ the farmworker movement."
– Jessenia Diaz, 2019 Into the Fields intern
Thank you!
Thank you to our many supporters, funders, and partners who have contributed to our work this year. See the full list here. We're grateful for your support on this road to farmworker justice!
+ Read the full annual report here.
