Reinaldo's Building Equipment

Reinaldo left Brazil in 2008 to live and work in Ireland. Although he did not have a work permit, friends had told him that he would be able to find a job quickly. After six months, he was still unable to find steady employment. Reinaldo could not find housing or support himself.

He wanted to return to Brazil, but could not afford the plane ticket. “A friend told me about IOM when I wanted to return but did not have the means to do so.” Reinaldo visited IOM offices in Dublin and learned that he could apply for assistance with the cost of his return. He could also apply for the IOM reintegration grant to help him start a small business in Brazil.

After he returned, Reinaldo decided that he wanted to begin working in construction again. He used the grant to purchase building equipment so that he could work as an independent contractor. The opportunity made him feel positive about his decision to return. “It helped me to leave behind an unsustainable situation, in a country where I did not even speak the language.”