SAF develops the leadership of college students from diverse backgrounds, giving them the opportunity to work directly with farmworkers in the Carolinas. Each year, SAF trains approximately 25 students on issues that farmworkers face, and places them to work full-time with migrant education programs, legal aid offices, rural health clinics, community-based organizations, and farmworker unions. SAF interns increase the capacity of the organizations they work with by outreaching to over 3,000 farmworkers & their families each summer.
Duration: 10 weeks (May 25 - August 1)
Priority Deadline: December 12, 2025
Final Deadline: February 2, 2026
Eligibility
To qualify you must be a current college student (including community college), recent graduate (within 2 years), or planning to return to school / taking a gap year. To be preferenced you must be able to say yes to one of the following:
- I speak high-intermediate or advanced Spanish (preference but may have availability for a few non-Spanish speaking placements)
- I am a college student from a farmworker family
- I am a student currently attending college in the Southeastern U.S.
- I am a college student from the Southeast (the Southeast is your home; you grew up there; your parents still live there, etc.)
- SAF strongly preferences all non-farmworker students to have reliable cars they can use for the summer. When possible, we pair students without cars together with students who do have cars to share transportation during the summer. In addition to needing a car for their work obligations, interns need it to drive to/from work, grocery store, attend the 3 SAF trainings, and to conduct their documentary or theater projects.
Benefits
- $4250 stipend
- Rent-free housing
- Room and board at 3 trainings
- Mentorship
- Out-of-state students from farmworker families receive support securing paid travel to North Carolina
- End-of-program scholarship for students from farmworker families
Expectations
- Fundraise $750 to contribute to SAF's work (accepted students will receive support and fundraising training)
- Complete 35-40 hours of work at your internship sites
- Participate in the entire program from May 25 - August 1, 2026
- Write 3 guided writings/blogs
- Complete a documentary or theater project
- Be willing to drive/ travel long distances to trainings and to outreach to farmworkers (1-4 hrs/day, 2-5 days/week)
Important dates
- October 6Application opens
- December 12Priority deadline
- February 2Final deadline
- Rolling after priority deadlineApplicant interviews
- By March 23Students notified of selection
- April 17 (tentative)First cohort meeting (virtual)
- May 25-29Orientation Retreat
- June 26-27Mid Retreat
- July 31-August 1Final Retreat
Contact
Testimonial
Through Into the Fields, I grew in advocacy and public speaking, discovered a love for theater, and felt a sense of true belonging. Above all, I leave hopeful that change is possible for farmworker and all communities striving for justice.
