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From Airwaves to Agriculture: Campesinos Sin Fronteras Reaches Thousands with Pesticide Safety Education

Updated: 4 days ago

Overview


Campesinos Sin Fronteras (CSF), based in Yuma County, Arizona, has successfully completed a multi-year pesticide safety education initiative funded by a $126,000 Agricultural Community-Based Projects (AgCBP) grant from the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC). The project, titled Campesinos Pesticide Safety Training and Education Program, combined in-person training, bilingual educational materials, community radio, and social media to improve pesticide safety knowledge among farmworkers and their families.


Through this effort, CSF trained 612 Spanish-speaking farmworkers and pesticide applicators and reached thousands more with information designed to reduce pesticide exposure and improve health outcomes across rural and border communities.



Highlights


  • 612 farmworkers trained in pesticide safety

  • 3,499 reached through in-person outreach at community events

  • 21,835 reached via Facebook and Instagram

  • 3,024 radio PSA plays on KYMZ 99.9 FM – Radio Sin Fronteras

  • Trainings used EPA-approved bilingual WPS Flipcharts and a newly developed fotonovela

  • Visual, oral, and printed educational formats are used to support comprehension




Program Details



Project Goals


The goal of the Campesinos Pesticide Safety Training and Education Program was to reach and educate farmworkers, pesticide applicators, and their families on the risks of pesticide exposure and provide practical strategies to reduce incidents of illness and injury.


Training Approach


Outreach was tailored to the needs and schedules of agricultural workers, including early morning field visits, community-based events, and one-on-one education. CSF utilized materials in both Spanish and English, emphasizing images and real-life scenarios to improve clarity and engagement.


Key components included:


  • Bilingual WPS Flipchart: Safety Training for Agricultural Workers

  • CSF’s newly developed fotonovela, Evitando los riesgos en la casa: Cómo Protegernos de Pesticidas en Nuestro Hogar

  • 16 radio PSAs covering pesticide safety topics, broadcast repeatedly on Radio Sin Fronteras

  • Social media outreach aligned with key Worker Protection Standard messages

  • Training delivered in-person at work sites, community centers, churches, schools, and CSF offices




Evaluation Outcomes


  • 92% of participants had prior pesticide safety knowledge

  • 100% demonstrated correct responses after training

  • Surveyed participants reported applying safety behaviors such as:

    • Changing clothes before entering the home

    • Washing work clothes separately

    • Avoiding entry into fields marked with warning signage

    • Participants also affirmed the value of the fotonovela and flipchart formats:

  • “I can’t read, but I can understand the story from the drawings.”

  • “The images are big, colorful, and clear—it’s easy to remember.”


What Made This Project Special?


  • Visual & Accessible Materials: Tools were selected to support learners with limited literacy and to foster family-wide conversations about pesticide safety.

  • Flexible Evaluation Methods: Pre- and post-training evaluations used verbal questions and “show of hands” to ensure participation across settings.

  • Strong Community Trust: CSF’s longstanding relationships with growers, promotores, and local institutions supported strong attendance and engagement.


About the Grantee


Campesinos Sin Fronteras is a trusted health and advocacy organization serving farmworkers and rural families in Yuma County. Their work focuses on education, prevention, and outreach across issues such as chronic disease, occupational safety, and pesticide exposure.


PERC thanks Campesinos Sin Fronteras PERC congratulates Campesinos Sin Fronteras on the successful completion of this


project. Their innovative use of fotonovelas, field-based training, radio, and community outreach offers a model for effective pesticide safety education in agricultural regions.


PERC thanks Campesinos Sin Fronteras


PERC congratulates Campesinos Sin Fronteras on the successful completion of this project. Their innovative use of fotonovelas, field-based training, radio, and community outreach offers a model for effective pesticide safety education in agricultural regions.

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