Farm Exchange Students

homingbird

A case i heard about i wanted to share with ye i dont want to post it in the farm section as the person involved might be on it . So i heard of this farmer who takes french exchange students & treats them like dirt does not feed them they live in a shed on the farm & are so hungry the have been seen eating calf ration along with berries off dithes on the farm. This is going to be the next big story to hit ireland as this case cant be the only one.

L1011

Are you sure you weren't actually watching a very early episode of The Simpsons?

I'd be pretty certain this would have hit the media an extremely long time ago if real. Exchange students have mobiles, speak English, etc.

homingbird

No i am telling you the truth as it is a friend of mine that works on the farm that this happens. I would say that this farm exchange is a tax scam that .is why they get them say you are paying them when you are not to keep the books in order. As for speaking english last one had zero english went home early as the owners went away on holiday & forgot to feed the student .There is also no checks on them as there stay is short 4 to 6 weeks if no problem is reported they keep sending more students this farm has been thru a few.

Doodah7

If you know about this, and in the unlikely event it is true rather than barstool talk, why have YOU not reported the farmer?

brian_t

homingbird wrote: »

As for speaking english last one had zero english went home early as the owners went away on holiday & forgot to feed the student .

Was there no calf ration available. What were the poor calves eating.

Emme

This story could well be true. I know of a girl who went from Ireland to a French farm for work experience about 30 years ago. She had to sleep on a thin roll up mattress in a corner of the kitchen and got nothing but bread and cheese to eat. She left after a few weeks. This was before mobile phones and internet.

I find the bit about eating the calf ration hard to believe. As somebody else said the students should have mobile phones and at least a rudiment of English. However if this story isn't runaway rumour get all the facts right and report the farmer to Teagasc. They may not be able to deal with the case directly but they might be able to advise and send one of their advisors out for a discreet visit to the farm.

brian_t

Emme wrote: »

This story could well be true. I know of a girl who went from Ireland to a French farm for work experience about 30 years ago. She had to sleep on a thin roll up mattress in a corner of the kitchen and got nothing but bread and cheese to eat. She left after a few weeks. This was before mobile phones and internet.

It might be believable if 30 years ago.

Emme wrote: »

However if this story isn't runaway rumour get all the facts right and report the farmer to Teagasc.

Forget Teagasc, even if just suspicious report to the Gardai immediately.

Doodah7

Why would Teagasc be interested, unless it is to test the students to see what effect calf rations have on them!

homingbird

My friend will lose his job if reported & he has witnessed it all in the years he has worked there.I could tell you alot more you would not believe things like this would happen in the 21st century.

Doodah7

homingbird wrote: »

My friend will lose his job if reported & he has witnessed it all in the years he has worked there.I could tell you alot more you would not believe things like this would happen in the 21st century.

Your friend is okay with being an accessory to child cruelty etc. Why do you think that your friend won't be prosecuted as well as the farmer? He is equally culpable. Perhaps he should look for a better employer...

homingbird

What about the people that put them there without checking up on them they share all the blame it is like leaving a dog off on the side of the road .

L1011

You are now aware of enough to report this if you believe it is happening. Go do so.

homingbird

L1011 wrote: »

You are now aware of enough to report this if you believe it is happening. Go do so.

I will leave it at that in the hope someone ( Ray Darcy rte) might take it further & save the other poor souls out around the country in the same setup .

L1011

homingbird wrote: »

I will leave it at that in the hope someone ( Ray Darcy rte) might take it further & save the other poor souls out around the country in the same setup .

So you're worried enough about it to vague-post about it but not actually do anything to help? Right so.

homingbird

If someone wants to check this out all they have to do is find out some of these students that went home early & ask them why also if they go home early they get no farm cert signed to say they have gained farm experience. Not too hard to follow up now is it.

Pelvis

If you believe this to be true and haven't done anything about it, then you may as well be doing it yourself.

L1011

homingbird wrote: »

If someone wants to check this out all they have to do is find out some of these students that went home early & ask them why also if they go home early they get no farm cert signed to say they have gained farm experience. Not too hard to follow up now is it.

If its that easy to prove, just sodding report it.

If this is happening (which I'm still convinced it isn't) and you're refusing to report it you're entirely complicit. Or an extremely bad liar.

brian_t

homingbird wrote: »

No i am telling you the truth as it is a friend of mine that works on the farm that this happens.

So you are telling the truth and it's your friend who is telling porkies.

homingbird

If the farmer is sent more students i will let you know it proves that students think that this is normal & dont report it.

ghostdancer

homingbird wrote: »

If the farmer is sent more students i will let you know it proves that students think that this is normal & dont report it.

or it's utter bollocks and not actually happening.

homingbird

Yes it is happening & not only on this farm . I have made ye aware of it if ye want to take it future you have my permission to link this thread on her Facebook or Twitter account s maybe a newspaper might check it out for a story. I just want to stay out of it as my friend does not know I have posted it. Like I said its not too hard a story to check out as its happening on more farms than this.

brian_t

homingbird wrote: »

A case i heard about i wanted to share with ye i dont want to post it in the farm section as the person involved might be on it .

Yes it would be unlikely that members who post in the Farming forum, would also be looking at threads in the Regional forums.

You've never mentioned where this farm is located. You seem to be based in Limerick.

lordgoat

1 - this thread is hilarious and not true

2 - has boards been hacked?

Who's the guy with glasses?

homingbird

Ok another part of this story my friend milks cows on this farm & once he was holding out milk from a sick cow in a bucket to dump as the cow was treated with medicine the student goes up to the bucket & takes some my friend tried to tell him not to put my friend has no french so student goes off with the milk for his tea. This is only the tip of the iceberg as to what happens on this farm.

homingbird

Blame the crowd that drops off these students not the farmer or my friend they are the abuser not my friend or farmer as they come for 4 to 6 weeks & have to wait this long for there return flight.

L1011

homingbird wrote: »

Ok another part of this story my friend milks cows on this farm & once he was holding out milk from a sick cow in a bucket to dump as the cow was treated with medicine the student goes up to the bucket & takes some my friend tried to tell him not to put my friend has no french so student goes off with the milk for his tea. This is only the tip of the iceberg as to what happens on this farm.

This is even less believable than the previous stuff.

Your "friend" is having you on for the laugh at this stage.

homingbird

Its totally true & has been going on for over 3 years.

L1011

homingbird wrote: »

Its totally true & has been going on for over 3 years.

You've one 'friend' telling you clearly nonsense tales, no further evidence and aren't willing to do anything other than keep insisting its true on here

Its not true

Its not happening

Stop talking to your "friend"

There are no French teenagers/young adults without basic functional English (and particularly an ability to understand the word "no", or go the police if being starved). The sooner you realise that the quicker you can get rid of the fantastic farmer 'friend'

homingbird

The friend happens to be my brother in law so i have also heard it from my sister . people didnt believe what was happening in nursing homes until there was a investigation into it This farmer is some piece of work you think it he has done it.

Panjandrums

This post has been deleted.

L1011

Panjandrums wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

The entire story is reliant on French teenagers being unable to speak English. Its nonsense and I suspect based on ancient Simpsons episode by someone who is likely amazed that someone has fallen for it for so long

brian_t

L1011 wrote: »

The entire story is reliant on French teenagers being unable to speak English.

Can they even speak French.

It's been going on 3 years so obviously none of them have complained when they got home.

homingbird

These stuents are supposed to be living with the family to learn the language along with farming so why isnt there any spot checks done as there has been none done to date . Who is responsible for sending them over as it is clearly a tax scam on behalf of the farmer by putting the student on the books & its costing him nothing. You want to get up early to be as cleaver as a irish farmer. Student has to wait until its return flight is ready to go home.One goes home another one comes it happens from march till the end of the summer.

L1011

homingbird wrote: »

These stuents are supposed to be living with the family to learn the language along with farming so why isnt there any spot checks done

Because this isn't happening and you're being had on

Someone has reversed the setting of this Simpsons episode and is likely falling around the place laughing that you're falling for it.

Buford T. Justice XIX

homingbird wrote: »

These stuents are supposed to be living with the family to learn the language along with farming so why isnt there any spot checks done as there has been none done to date . Who is responsible for sending them over as it is clearly a tax scam on behalf of the farmer by putting the student on the books & its costing him nothing. You want to get up early to be as cleaver as a irish farmer. Student has to wait until its return flight is ready to go home.One goes home another one comes it happens from march till the end of the summer.

:rolleyes:

Op, you are asking us to believe a series of highly improbable coincidences have occurred and continue to occur in this situation.

The French students have to have little ability or confidence to complain about being starved which, after having had some French students some years ago, I find very difficult to believe.

The students have no access to mobile phones to explain their situation to their parents, which is improbable at best.

The students haven't posted on social media about their treatment on this farm, again highly improbable.

The students have no access to previous students or future students at their college to share information about which farmers to avoid, again highly improbable going from my own days at college where the pay and conditions were clearly highlighted by students placed on different farms.

There was no contact from the organisation which placed them on the farm to check on their progress and how they are settling in, again highly improbable. There was frequent contact between my students and their colleges/friends while working here and there would be hell to pay if an organisation placing students from France onto unsuitable farms was found to be ignoring their wellbeing.

There were no complaints from students returning home from completing their placements to either their parents, friends, college or authorities in France regarding their placements.

Highly, highly improbable.

From my perspective, it just looks like a very weak attempt at farmer bashing so, if it is happening, you have a responsibility to report this improbable occurrence to prevent it continuing.

Do let us know how you got on:)

Emme

homingbird wrote: »

These stuents are supposed to be living with the family to learn the language along with farming so why isnt there any spot checks done as there has been none done to date . Who is responsible for sending them over as it is clearly a tax scam on behalf of the farmer by putting the student on the books & its costing him nothing. You want to get up early to be as cleaver as a irish farmer. Student has to wait until its return flight is ready to go home.One goes home another one comes it happens from march till the end of the summer.

I am from a farming background and I would believe your story. Most of the people responding are probably not from a farming background. Town people would not believe the ruthlessness of farming people and they are just as ruthless towards their own as they are towards strangers. I think you should have posted in the Farming thread.

If you keep making vague references to what is happening nothing will be done. Everyone will think "I'll say nothing because I want to keep my own nose clean, somebody else can report it." You, your brother-in-law and your sister are complicit in the abuse of these students. You know what is happening but won't do anything.

Somebody here said that Teagasc is only concerned with animal feed and crops. Teagasc ran an educational programme called the Green Cert some years ago. I mentioned a girl who went to France, was treated badly and left. She went over there 30 years ago on a Green Cert exchange and reported the family. The students who go back to France should be reporting the farm over there. If they are still sending students over maybe there's a racket going on over there too.

homingbird

The reason i want to stay out of this is this farmer is straight with my brother inlaw he pays him on time without have to chase him if i posted in farming section i would get him in trouble as he does not know i posted this but like i said it is probably happening on other farms too. The students are only kids out of school they must think this is the norm.

Emme

homingbird wrote: »

The reason i want to stay out of this is this farmer is straight with my brother inlaw he pays him on time without have to chase him if i posted in farming section i would get him in trouble as he does not know i posted this but like i said it is probably happening on other farms too. The students are only kids out of school they must think this is the norm.

If it is happening on other farms nobody is going to say anything for the same reason you don't want to say anything. I'm sure it does go on at other farms. A few years ago Eastern European farm workers were found living in horrific conditions in the UK that would defy belief. I am surprised French students would put up with this - is your brother-in-law sure these people are French?

If you or nobody else says anything nothing will be done and the students will continue to suffer. All you can do is ask your brother-in-law to make sure these students get a sandwich or some sort of a decent meal every day.

L1011

Emme wrote: »

If it is happening on other farms nobody is going to say anything for the same reason you don't want to say anything. I'm sure it does go on at other farms. A few years ago Eastern European farm workers were found living in horrific conditions in the UK that would defy belief. I am surprised French students would put up with this - is your brother-in-law sure these people are French?

If you or nobody else says anything nothing will be done and the students will continue to suffer. All you can do is ask your brother-in-law to make sure these students get a sandwich or some sort of a decent meal every day.

The "students" don't exist. His brother in law is having him on.

Emme

L1011 wrote: »

The "students" don't exist. His brother in law is having him on.

I hope so. Nobody in their right mind would work in a place where people are being treated this badly.

homingbird

Who runs this exchange scheme & i will send them on this thread to check this out .

brian_t

homingbird wrote: »

Who runs this exchange scheme & i will send them on this thread to check this out .

You have provided no information on this thread for anyone to check out.

Emme

homingbird wrote: »

Who runs this exchange scheme & i will send them on this thread to check this out .

Are you not afraid of your brother-in-law losing his job?

Sending the people who run the exchange scheme on this thread is no good. You have seen the response from people for yourself. I was the one of the few people paying you any heed but I am starting to get a bit sceptical.

If it is true about the students you need to find out who runs the exchange scheme but that might be diffic88lt. You need to send them directly to the farm where the students are rather than sending then on a thread where most people don't believe you.

Again I find it hard to believe that these students are French no matter how young they are. There have been cases of Eastern Europeans living in very poor conditions in farms in the UK. I knew French students working on a stud farm when I was at school in the late 80s and they were smart and wouldn't stand for any abuse. The French are known for not taking crap.

I'm inclined to think these students are from Eastern Europe IF :rolleyes: your story is true.

homingbird

Yes. & no because it is happening on other farms this farmer has probably been told by other farmers that do this as he goes on a lot of farm walk's & so on.

Buford T. Justice XIX

homingbird wrote: »

Yes. & no because it is happening on other farms this farmer has probably been told by other farmers that do this as he goes on a lot of farm walk's & so on.

You be trippin', bro:D

lordgoat

stop feeding the trolls guys. come on. Mods wanna put an end to this joke?

maxwell smart

OP, only one thing for you to do......


Talk to Joe

The part time boy

The real story ?

1. Op telling the truth ?

2. Op is very gulable. His brother In law told him a tale and he really beilves it to be ture ?

3. The op is not very good at making up stories ?

Defo not number one .even if it was ture the op is letting some poor child eat calf nuts as there not been feed and all he can do is post it here . Pretty evil bas**rd .
every time his posts he makes the story look more stupid . It's also quite clear his has no idea of how exchange students program work . He also does not seem to understand tax for bussincess either .

So might be number 2 . If so i say there a lot of people laughing at him in the pub at night . Op also probably believes that's mike got 5 holes in one last Friday cause my brother in law told me .

More than Likely number 3 though .

Maybe u getting a great kick out of making this up. If so best of luck to ya . I say your life is amazing if this Is want you need to do for some adult attention . You remind me of a child who brakes all around them to get some attention from there parents .

If you were a bit more creative you might have made the story about a eastern Europe worker who living in a hay shed and getting paid peanuts . Or maybe if you told us the farmer took the moblie phone of the poor French fella . Or that the farm is in the middle of a mountain with no network . Or this happened in the 80,s .

Ps your "story " has made it to the farming section so your brother in law better look for a new job as I sure his getting the sacked in the morning

homingbird

as i said its happening on more farms than this i am sure as my brother inlaw has worked on a good few farms & most farmers will pull ever trick in the book to get the better deal when you work for them including leaving you a weeks pay out all the time to keep you working for them.

The part time boy

Did your brother in law also win the lotto in forgien country and wants share the winnings .

I defo up for that . I pm you my bank details

darragh_haven

The part time boy wrote: »

Did your brother in law also win the lotto in forgien country and wants share the winnings .

I defo up for that . I pm you my bank details

His brother in law is a Nigerian Prince.....