CAMPrinos, a student organization that is part of the College Assistance Migrant Program at the University of New Mexico, is hosting the sixth Annual Farmworker Awareness Week from April 2 to 7 at the Student Union Building.
Several departments as well as student and community organizations including CAMP, Student Action with Farmworkers, Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color, El Centro De la Raza, Lobo Respect and others, are sponsoring the week.
The awareness campaign will kick off Monday at SUB and will conclude on Saturday at the National Hispanic Cultural Center with the 25th Annual César Chávez Day Fiesta.
“This is a week where we are going to honor and celebrate and really raise awareness about the hard work and struggle of farmworkers,” said Diego Salcido-Morales, one of the organizers, a Camprinos’ member and an undergraduate student at the College of Education.
The Farmworkers Awareness Week Committee is behind the planning and execution of all the events.
The week will begin with the event Dia de la Mujer Campesina, Honoring Women Farmworkers at the SUB Atrium on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. shining light on the hardships faced by women farmworkers in their profession. The Lobo Theater will feature the movie, “Rape in the Fields” at 5:30 p.m., followed by a discussion panel.
Student farmworkers will discuss their experience during Día del Estudiante Campesino, Farmworker Student Appreciation Day, at the SUB Atrium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by music at 12 p.m.
A birthday celebration honoring César Chávez and the farmworker movement will be held at the SUB Atrium Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with music at noon.
“We are taking more active role this semester,” said Ruendy Castillo, the president of CAMPrinos. “Our FAW committee meets every week and (discusses) what we are having during our events — for instance this semester we also have a blood drive, different guest speakers and the music events on our calendar.”
Ivon Olay, program Specialist at the College Assistance Migrant Program, is the person behind the idea of Camprinos. He said they made the student organization through CAMP members who come from farmworker families.
“This is a topic you don’t get very often, and that is why we are trying to let the students know that it is actually happening at their campus,” Castillo said.
Salcido-Morales said that the events will be fun, and he encourages everyone to come and learn about farmworkers.
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Tasawar Shah is the news reporter at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @tashah_80.
