Interview: Marisa Olivas Social Worker of “Belher”.

Carmen Marisa Olivas Durán is in charge of the “Campo Dorita ” nursery; one of the shelters of the grower company “Belher”.  Marisa is from San Blas, she is 35 years old and studied the Bachelor of Social Work in Culiacan, Sinaloa.

Marisa tells us in this interview about how is a common day at thenursery and let notice , by giving us a tour of the facilities , their passion for seeking the welfare of all children in her care.

1. How did you integrate to “Belher”?

I left my resume in the human resources offices, and soon they talked me and told me that I was going to integrate the work at the shelter and would start as responsible for childcare .

Today I have 4 years working in here , basically since “Campo Dorita” began.

2. What are your main functions in the company?

Here in the nursery we serve a total of 180 children. The nursery is divided into 4 rooms; Room “A” attended by children from 45 days old until 12 months and where it serves 12 children; Hall “B” where are served from 1 to 3 years; the “C” room is 4 to 8 years, where are 39 children and the room “D” from 8 to 14 where 59 children are served.

The facilities in kindergarten, are divided as follows: the 4 rooms, a kindergarten room, a multipurpose room, the dining room for children and staff, and bathrooms for children and separate bathrooms for staff.

We have a teacher who helps us with early stimulation of young children from the “A” room who are not yet old enough to go to kindergarten. I also coordinate the mothers, who help us with children in each room.

Another daily activity, is the attendance of children to primary school. There are 76 children who goes to an elementary school that is in the town of San Blas. The company provides transportation and I am responsible to carry and bring the kids.

I also watch over the health of children in coordination with the doctor and nurse, that comes from IMSS. It caters for children according to the needs of each child and doctor carries a case history of each child, talk to the parents and talk to me if someone needs more revisions.

We have coordination with the asosiation “Pro Formación IAP (AFOMAC)”, which is who gives us the breakfast and hot meals for children. We have the responsibility to watch together the weight and height of children.

We also have a program with the “fundación Pro-familia de Jornaleros Agrícolas de la Asociación de Agricultores del Rio Culiacán (AARC)”, to held sporting events. We also have extracurricular activities, like visits to the Interactive Museum of Addictions (MIA), the science center and recreational parks.

Finally we have the commemorative activities such as; November 20, Children’s Day, the Spring`s parade, mothers day, etc.

We organize the events right here, and the kids get so excited and fascinated. Even children who go to other schools ask me also to join us.

3. What is the most satisfying part about your job?

Definitely take care of the children.

At the end of season most of them return to their villages and I feel sad to see when trucks are leaving, because some children do not return anymore. And when season starts again, children says “Hey Marissa, we’re here!”, It feels very nice. I love working here!

4. What is the importance of documentation in the administration area of social responsibility?

It is very important because you need to have both documentary and photographic evidence as the area of social responsibility requires it.

This for me has been a challenge, because I did not know how to use computers, I had to learn because it requires handling many programs.

5. The issue of social responsibility is gradually getting stronger, representing new challenges for producers since the requirements in this area are increasing. How this has been reflected in your company?

In “Belher Agriculture” social responsibility has always been a central aspect, because our General Director, Rosario Antonio Beltran Ureta, has always been concerned about the conditions of all workers and the living conditions in shelters and social program in kindergartens

6. Could you share with us any experience that had marked you this years?

Working with children, because they are different in matter of cultures, customs and languages. That was nice for me, especially learn from them, because sometimes I ask, “How this word is said In your native language?” and they tell me.

7. How has supported the Eleven Rivers certification in compliance with the different standards required by the market?

Eleven Rivers Scheme has helped us a lot, because every time the demands have been increasing in terms of food safety, and social responsibility, as health, housing and living conditions of each worker.

Therefore it has been reflected in the quality of our product, as Eleven Rivers also oversees field and packing and fulfilling social responsibility, thus increasing the demand of our product.

8. Anything else you want to add?

A story that fascinated me, because it was the only time until today. A 14th February  I received a detail of a child, it was a flower with chocolates and during the four years that I have working here, I just received this detail by a child.

In fact the following year his family did not return, and this year became only his mother. And I told her ” I still have the gift your son gave me.” Because it was a detail that I loved.