Hi, my name is Bessie, and I am the Migrant Program and Community Engagement Coordinator. I joined the Horizons team last June initially to volunteer as a translator on farms for the Spanish speaking migrant workers. Quickly afterwards I was hired on as the Migrant Program and Community Engagement Coordinator and have been working permanently since. I am a first-generation immigrant from Cuba and going back and forth from Cuba to Canada I always wondered why it felt like I was living in two very different places. In one country I felt as if I had so much, I was rich with happiness and never thought I was missing out on anything. While living in the other country I felt so poor, like we were always doing everything we could to just get by. Can you guess which country was which?

Growing up I understood this feeling. In Cuba I was filled with so much joy and even though this is a country considerably underdeveloped when compared to Canada, it felt as if I had so much. While in Canada we always felt poor, receiving supports from different social services and various community members. This was an odd feeling because Canada was supposed to be the place of great opportunities, yet, for us, there was this immense struggle. There was a huge disconnect between Canada and Cuba, at least I thought so. A desire to understand these feelings, and lived experience as an immigrant family trying to make it in Canada fueled my eagerness to learn about why these countries were so different politically, socially, and culturally and why I felt like I lived two different lives.

This journey led me to study International Development at University, receiving both my BA and master’s degree in International Development, with my research focusing on the detention centers in the United Sates, and their impact on the physical and mental health of Latin migrant women. I always knew I wanted to be in the immigration sector, but one thing I did not see coming was that after University I would find myself working on a farm in Ontario that employed migrant workers. What at first started as a fun employment opportunity with one of my best friends, quickly grew into a new type of appreciation for those men and women that come to Canada to live and work here for months at a time. The work isn’t easy, its long, its continuous, its hard on the body, physically and mentally. I personally experienced this first-hand, being placed in assembly potting lines standing all day or setting down heavy plants in the greenhouse. I quickly learned how hard these men and women work. I can see this type of work ethic in my mom who always had two or three jobs at a time, saying yes to any job opportunity that was available to her. When I see the sacrifice made by many migrant workers, as they place work and ambition over everything, and yet they are still mistreated, misinterpreted by the masses, not receiving sufficient opportunities and resources, and having little to no recognition as members of communities, I knew I wanted to do something about it.

After volunteering as a translator for Horizons of Friendship I began working as the Migrant Worker Coordinator. Knowing the grand need for supports, services and acknowledgement of community representation for migrant workers in our area, I knew that my goals were to make sure the barriers they were facing were acknowledged and we were able to offer our supports the best way we could. That is exactly what Horizons of Friendship does. I am so happy that alongside my colleagues we have been able to create a program that demonstrates the needs of this community, and in collaboration with other amazing organizations and services in the Northumberland area we have been able to support over 150 migrant workers working in over 10 farms.

Migrant labor is so important for our agriculture sector and in our area, we have workers arriving form countries such as Mexico, Jamaica, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago. The migrant worker program is aimed at increasing access to various forms of social, legal and wellbeing support while decreasing the financial stressors throughout the season.  We have partnered with our local legal and health clinics to offer supports anywhere from filling out CPP applications to setting up after hours appointment with a nurse to address work related injuries.

We have our Welcome Kits filled with necessities, food, and information written in both Spanish and English on health and safety issues and other important information such as who to call in case of emergencies. These welcome kits help alleviate any financial stressors the workers may face upon arrival. After some feedback in 2023, we now have our bags ready to distribute as soon as they arrive on the farm due to the great need for them right away. When workers arrive often, they don’t have bank accounts opened and need time setting it up or they may have to wait until their first paycheck to purchase any items. The welcome kits have been a great support.

We provide information on workers rights and safety through fun workshops and information pamphlets. In 2023 we partnered with Occupational Health for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) to offer 5 workshops one Sunday a month Form June-September. Topics included heat stress and sun safety, what to do for aches and pains and more! OHCOW would facilitate very hands on activities and would provide the workers with items such as eye drops, safety glasses and more.

At Horizons, we offer translation and transportation services to support both workers and employers. I have had employers reach out to me to come over to their farm to do a mid -year evaluation with their Spanish speaking workers. This looked like interpretating for conversations on how the job has been so far, if there is anything they have concerns over or anything they would like to change. I have other employers reach out to see if I could take workers to hospital visits and workers asking for translation services to better communicate with their employers as well. Our program not only aims to provide educational and valuable information, but we hope to promote community strengthening amongst migrant workers and reduce isolation through social activities, including appreciation dinners, outdoor events and cultural/traditional celebrations.

One of our newest additions to the program that we are most excited to introduce is our Wellness Program. To provide much needed support to the migrant workers in our community, we have partnered with Northumberland Federation of Agriculture to extended counselling supports.

Over the past year we have seen just how vital mental health support is for our migrant workers. Through personal testimonies and through our studies we have seen how some of the stressors this population faces are due to isolation, relationship strains, cultural barriers, racism and xenophobia, violence back home and many more factors. Currently our program offers 8 free sessions per worker that can be extended if needed and if there is funding available. It is provided by appointment and through the phone to help eliminate any transportation or time conflicts. Rosa Cervantes is our licensed psychologist for our Wellness Program, she has over 25 years of experience both in Mexico and Canada.

Some of the barriers we face since the program has started is the stigma of mental health especially within men. In Mexico there is a big machismo culture and in Jamaica there is the presence that mental health isn’t a real issue, so we have had some difficulties on getting some of the men and women comfortable in addressing mental health. However, we hope that over time folks will build stronger relationships with Rosa, and understand that she is here to support them in any capacity.

I have been so fortunate to be able to be a part of such an amazing team here at Horizons who are filled with so much passion. These members of our community that come from different countries to work on our farms and help grow our food are so important and should be recognized! I have met so many different men and women, we have shared stories, and have formed great friendships. Its so important for me that this program is accessible to all the farms in our area and that is why we will continue to reach those workers that may need our supports! If you would like to help with our migrant worker program anywhere form donations or volunteering, please feel free to visit our website, contact me, or come by to our office located in Cobourg Ontario.

Gracias!