When Javier returned to Brazil from his three years in Ireland, he found his hometown had not changed but that he had. “I learned to value my family more.” Although living in Ireland had been a positive experience, he missed his family greatly while he was away.

Javier had decided to move to Ireland in 2005, hoping to find new job opportunities. Unfortunately, with no visa, he was not able to find steady work. He managed to get a few temporary jobs, but always ended up struggling to maintain housing and other necessities. When a friend told him that IOM could assist him to return to Brazil, he decided to apply for the programme immediately.

However, the decision to return was still a difficult one. He explained, “Like most people, I left Brazil with debts. I came back without debts but I didn’t make any money.” After a few weeks of readapting, Javier started looking for a job. He applied for reintegration assistance so that he could learn to drive, a skill that he thought would be appealing to employers. In 2009, Javier reported to IOM that he was working as a sales representative.