Computers and Printers for Buena Vista Migrant Camp Families

Affluent families almost always have a computer and printer available for their children at home. Studies have shown that children with computers and printers at home are academically much more successful and advance faster than those children that lack home computers and printers.

For years, the Buena Vista migrant camp has accepted overhauled used computers and printers to check out to interested migrant families with children as they enter the camp on May 1. However, the track record for these computers is not good. Most break down and require costly repairs during the time that the migrants are living in the camp.

The Center for Farmworker Families has initiated a new program in which we have purchased new office-quality computers and printers with warranties. If dysfunction occurs, computers and printers can be returned to the manufacturer for repair. Four migrant farmworker families with older children now have access to computers and printers when they enter the camp.

We will then have a record of the specific family who received the computer/printer for each season. Latino computer science students at UCSC have volunteered to maintain and refurbish all computers during the winter, when migrants are no longer living in the camp. Below, we highlight our first four families that are the first to check out computers and printers for their children’s or their own continued academic advancement.

Gabriela and Rafael Gonzalez
Gabriela and Rafael Gonzalez have been traveling from Tangancicuaro, Michoacán, to the Buena Vista migrant camp for many years. Gabriela’s sister lives with the family and, like Gabriela and Rafael, works in the strawberry fields from May to November. When the harvest season is complete, the family returns home to Tangancicuaro. Gabriela and Rafael have three children living with them. Their oldest, Anabelle, picks blackberries. The two youngest, Gabriela, Jr. and Rafael, are both in school. Gabriela is 16 and attends Aptos High School. Her dream is to become a kindergarten teacher. Rafael is in third grade and is currently learning computer skills in school. Both need a home computer/printer to complete assignments.

Gloria and José Valdez Fernandez
Gloria and José Fernandez have been traveling from Gómez Farias, Michoacán, to the Buena Vista migrant camp for the past five years. Thus far, they have been able to return after the season to Gómez each year. Both work together in the blackberry fields of Watsonville. Gloria and José have two children who travel with them, Julio Cesar, 6 months of age, and Fabiola who is 4 years old. Gloria and José want to begin attending night ESL and computer classes at Cabrillo College upon their return to the migrant camp in May 2009. They are both interested in introducing Fabiola to the computer as soon as possible. In order to successfully complete their Cabrillo assignments, they will need a home computer/printer.

Please donate so that we can purchase more computers
and printers for other families with members in school.

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