Ana Lucia came to Ireland in 2005 and worked as an au pair. She came to be with her sister who was already living and working in Ireland. In order to fulfil her work duties, Ana Lucia needed to purchase a car. Unfortunately, she purchased one which turned out to be faulty. She was unable to get her money back and lost her job. She was then unemployed for seven months and her immigration status became irregular. She felt that she was in a desperate situation.

Ana Lucia applied to IOM to return voluntarily to Brazil in the summer of 2007. She says that when she contacted IOM, “I was well-received and was given a lot of support.” Her travel to Brazil was arranged for her five weeks later.

"The big problem in Ireland is being in an irregular situation, and you can’t find a job if you don’t have an education.”

Although Ana Lucia chose to return, she felt uncertain about how life would be in Brazil. She stayed with her family in the beginning and contacted IOM office in Buenos Aires to assist with her reintegration. The staff there provided her with a reintegration grant so that she could attend a university class in literature and improve her employment prospects.

 

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