In an interesting chat we had the opportunity to talk with Jarintzy Guadalupe Rauz Gallegos one of the young people who participated in the Analysis Forum: Young People in the National Primary Sector that was held in the Mexico Senate of the Republic to contribute their opinions to the NOM-038-STPS-2023 project that addresses the labor situation of 16 and 17 year olds in agricultural, forestry, sawing, forestry, hunting and fishing activities; to identify those of lower risk, and that does not involve the use of risky inputs, handling of machinery and heavy vehicles for minors.

Jarintzy is an enthusiastic and dreamy young woman, we can see in her eyes how her words reflect many of the dreams and desires that she sought to achieve at a young age, her family is originally from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca; her mother has more than 25 years working in the kitchen in Agricola Belher migrating year after year to Sinaloa.

Jarintzy and her brother Luis Enrique were born in Sinaloa, and they have benefited throughout their lives from the many free of charge services in terms of social responsibility that the facilities of Agricola Belher have, such as housing, daycare, dining room, medical office, cultural, sports, and recreational activities, but most importantly the human and close treatment that the owners and employees of the company have with migrant workers. She and her brother are users of the daycare facilities since they were babies where they participated in preventive health and development programs for children. Even today they continue to go to these facilities when they need the support of the school counselor who is in a room equipped with materials, computer, internet and printer with which they can support the young people who are studying to do their homework.

She is currently in high school, and as she talks to us about her experience of studying, her face overflows with excitement at the thought of what she can achieve in the future. She tells us about the experience of going to a primary school in the nearby town which at first was intimidating however she was fortunate to be welcomed and loved by her classmates, at the contrary, Jarintzy brings a cultural range since she is in close contact with the many traditions and cultural activities that take place in the state of Oaxaca, she tells us how she recently got involved in talking about the traditions of the Day of the Dead, the Independence Day, among others. She also tells us that one of the things she likes about her experience of living in agriculture area is living with the people who come to Sinaloa and from the different states of Mexico, which allows them to share many life stories that happen every season.

She chose to study a technical program at the National College of Technical Professional Education (CONALEP) because her mother is a single mother, she and her brother are currently studying, and it may be the last level of studies that her mother could afford for her, so she hopes that through this preparation she can have access to more job opportunities.

“My mom has always worked a lot, and I want to support her, for that reason I decided to study in CONALEP because there you get a technical education, and my mom will be able to support me so I can work in a good job.”

Jaritzy has free transportation service to the high school from the company, a space to do research tasks that require the use of the internet, and the service of a technical advisor in case she has doubts about her tasks. In addition to the support for the use of the agricultural facilities that are like her home and it shows, in her self-confidence and in the way she addresses the collaborators of the social work area, who in turn are available, loving and are always in the best disposition to support her and whoever needs them for their development.

“They gave me confidence, they told me you can come, and you can do your homework, and I am very comfortable here”.

With all the confidence she shares with us how passionate she is about studying, she repeatedly shared with us that her dream is to finish three professional careers: systems engineering, nursing, and law.

Finally, she talked about her experience in the Senate, her excitement to travel by plane for the first time, to get to know the beautiful Mexico City accompanied by her brother and other young people from the company and with some collaborators of ProFamilia IAP of the Culiacan River Farmers Association (AARC), including its President.

In her opportunity to participate in the Forum in the Senate, Jarintzy shared how she has grown within the company, her desire to continue with her studies, but at the same time, the need that she and many other young people her age must have a job for the same purpose, to pay for their studies.

“At that moment, when I was speaking, I felt and said, what can I do? You can do anything! It will take discipline and time, but you can do anything! Then someone shouted at me: you are going to be a Senator, I felt very excited”.

Finally, she concluded with her thanks:

“To thank more than anything to Agrícola Belher, for extending an invitation to go to Mexico City, to thank the people who accompanied me, who made me feel very comfortable. Well, I would also like to thank you for the forum, because they allowed me to speak, to give my testimony, to allow the young people to speak, and to give their participation. Thank you for everything. I feel very good here, even more so now”.