By Joy'l Bouwman

Guest Writer

Project CAMINO, a Michigan-based program for the education of migrant workers, received word September 22 that its federal funding had been cancelled.

The program, which is both an acronym for Comprehensive Approach for Migrant Youth Introducing New Opportunities and a Spanish word meaning ``road'' or ``I walk,'' helped the children of migrant farm workers attend school, supplying them with the money they would have made working in the fields with their families. The amount awarded depends on age and the number of weeks they participate.

CAMINO staff members are unsure why their funding has been cut. According to CAMINO project coordinator Amas Aduviri, ``CAMINO received a fax on Sept. 11 saying that funding would be terminated for the upcoming year'' but did not receive an explanation or a chance to state their case. Governmental support for CAMINO was originally conceptualized to be for three years, Aduviri said.

CAMINO director Randy Bell agreed that the state's action has left him confused.

``I recognize there are a lot of new influences on federal spending priorities, but the specific reasons [for canceling CAMINO's funding] have not been outlined to me,'' he said.

Bell also said he does not know who to contact at the U.S. Department of Labor about the funding loss.

No members of the Department of Labor were available for comment.

CAMINO, which is based in Lansing, began in May 2000 with funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. As of Aug, 24, 2001, CAMINO had enrolled and served 242 migrant youth ages12 to 17. Randy Bell estimated that the project serves between 250 and 275 youths in total.

CAMINO is a multi-state endeavor because most of the migrant families come to Michigan from Texas.

The participants in CAMINO come from Texas, Mexico, Florida and New Mexico and are enrolled in the program in Michigan counties, including Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent, Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass and Ingham. Western Michigan holds the majority of migrant workers, and Kent County alone receives $2 million in revenue from migrant workers, said Bell.

Jane Tijerina, a member of the advisory committee for CAMINO in Kent County, is very impressed with how quickly the program has become a success.

``They hit the ground and started running with it,'' she said.

According to Bell, CAMINO has substantially affected school attendance, and 79.6 percent of CAMINO youth reported that their attitudes toward education have improved because of their participation in the program.

Since CAMINO has proven successful in achieving positive outcomes for migrant youth, Bell feels very determined to find a way to keep the program going. Ideally, directors and coordinators of CAMINO hope the Department of Labor will reconsider their decision and restore funding.

In case this does not happen, CAMINO has formed an advising committee that is attempting to pull strings and arrange for funding from other sources outside the state and federal governments.

Overall, Bell remains confident that CAMINO will survive.

``Ideally, we'll be able to preserve the model as it was designed,'' he said. ``We know it works. It has nurtured new dreams in the hearts and minds of migrant youth and their families.''

Each youth in the CAMINO program is assigned an adult mentor from surrounding colleges in Michigan such as Michigan State, Grand Valley and Aquinas.

Aduviri believes that the mentoring part of the project is the most successful.

``The mentors are like big brothers and big sisters to the children,'' he said.

In addition to working with adult mentors, the youth interact with adults in school settings, take part in job shadowing, obtain career experiences and visit colleges. They also participate in tutoring, technology seminars and workshops.

Rick Olivarez, state monitor advocate for the Michigan Department of Career Development, is not pleased with the funding cut.

``The project brought a vision and opportunity to migrant youth,'' said Olivarez, who serves on the advisory committee for CAMINO. ``The cut of funding is hurting the children most because they look forward to project CAMINO.''

Project CAMINO will continue for two more weeks, until the children go back to Texas and other states at the end of the month.