Hi there! I'm Jasmine Jaimes and I want to thank you for your willinginess to donate to a cause I care so deeply about. To tell you more about myself, I am the proud daughter of two farm-working parents and I identify as Mexican and Guatemalan. I have always been passionate about advocating for the farm-working community. I come from a line of farmworkers and my parents have worked hard so that their kids could trade the fields for a classroom. Through their hard work, as of May 23rd, all three of their children wil be high school graduates. My parents always dreamed of their children having a proper education and even continuing to higher education. I'm proud to say that I'm fulfilling my parents' dream as I am a first generation college student attending Valdosta State University majoring in Business Administration. Neither of my parents finished high school, but my mother had the courage to obtain her GED and she's one of my biggest supporters when it comes to obtaining my degree. I carry my families sacrifices with me and use it as constant motivation to graduate and provide my family with the future that we deserve. I’m the first in my family to do this kind of work and I would appreciate your support!

My Journey to SAF

My love for the farmworking community started with my parents but is deeply rooted in my aunts and uncles and it's what my childhood consisted of. My parents lived a careful life but even then, a minor traffic violation can change all of that. In 2020, my dad was detained and sent to Stewart Detention Center where he awaited deportation and eventually was deported to Guatemala. I was 15 years old and I have not held my dad since. Even then, he continued harvesting crops and eventually transitioned into the logging industry. My mother was left to fend for their children and did the best she could alone. The first picture you see is my mom in the blueberry fields. The second photo is my Godmother Irma, who has always and still continues to help our family. The last photo includes my siblings and as you can tell, harvesting was a family ordeal. After the deportation, I thought I was left to enter the work force as my sister did and this would be the only way I could contribute to my family. I did not consider higher education until my sister told me about the College Assistance Migrant Program. I applied to colleges but quickly dismissed the idea that I would actually get accepted and even less, actually attend. To my surprise, I actually got in and started weighing my options to what my future could be. I was interviewed and selected to be CAMP scholar at Valdosta State and through my experiences in the program, I realized I could contribute far greater to my family with a degree than entering the workforce right out of high school. Through CAMP, I've developed skills that have opened numerous doors including earning a spot in the Into the Fields Internship Cohort for Summer 2023. That summer, I interned with The Farmworkers Project in Dunn, North Carolina. I met amazing people who were just as passionate about farmworker advocacy as I am. I'm more than thrilled to return this summer as a program assistant and lead this years interns on their experiences. 

Who is SAF?
Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) is a North Carolina–based nonprofit that brings students and farmworkers together to improve farmworker living and working conditions through education, advocacy, and direct service.

Why is this work important?
SAF’s work is crucial in confronting the exploitation and marginalization of farmworkers. It promotes fair treatment, better working conditions, and respect for the essential role farmworkers play in our food system.

What do we hope to achieve?
SAF aims to build a more just agricultural system by empowering farmworkers, fostering leadership, and strengthening connections between students and farmworker communities to create lasting change.

What role do contributions play?
Contributions are vital for sustaining SAF’s internships, outreach, and advocacy programs. They help provide resources, education, and direct support that enable farmworkers and students to work together for justice.

I am fundraising $750 before May 17th and I can not do this without you! I've created a chart and broken down how many donations of various amounts I would need to reach my goal. I would appreciate any contributions! Can't donate? No worries! You can still support me by copying this link and sharing it with 5 friends!

Help me reach my goal by May 17th, 2025! Thank you once again!