Maqa's Food Stall

When Maqa could not find a job in Mongolia, he and his wife decided he should learn English to improve his job skills. He enrolled in a language course in Dublin and began to work part-time. Once the course ended, Maqa could renew his visa. For several years, he took temporary jobs, trying to support his family in Mongolia.

In 2012, Maqa decided that he missed his wife and children too much to remain in Ireland. He also wanted to care for his aging parents, but could not earn enough in Ireland to do so. A friend told him about IOM’s voluntary return programme, and Maqa applied for assistance to return to Mongolia.

After he returned, Maqa was very happy to be with his wife and family again. With his family’s support, he did not experience difficulty reintegrating. He immediately applied for the reintegration grant to start a business. “I used the money to build a roof for my house and create a small booth to sell food stuff. I thought this could be one way to generate income for my family.”

In 2013, Maqa spoke with IOM staff in Mongolia. He was planning to open his food stall in May 2013.