Carlos came to Ireland with the hope that he would find new work opportunities. Although he did not have a work permit, he managed to find small jobs that allowed him to live in Dublin for almost a year. He was frustrated, however, that he could not find permanent employment. He decided that he wanted to return to Venezuela, but he was worried that immigration would see that he had overstayed his tourist visa. He contacted IOM to ask for assistance in organizing his travel papers. Carlos was pleased to learn that he could also apply for a grant that would allow him to create a sustainable business.

Carlos decided to begin designing his own collection of unique wooden jewellery and small trinkets. They were popular enough that he can now also sell them through local retailers in tourist areas.

In the first few months after returning to Venezuela, Carlos relied on assistance from his friends and family. He also began working on a business plan so that he could apply for the reintegration grant. He hoped to continue his family’s legacy in the woodwork industry, but knew that making large furniture was not profitable enough to support him. Instead, Carlos wanted to create a variety of items that he could sell from his home. He purchased a machine that would enable him to work with smaller pieces of wood.

 

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