Tudor and Sylvia's Farm

Tudor and Sylvia came to Ireland from Moldova in 2003, and stayed for nearly five years. Neither had a work permit but they hoped that they would be able to find enough work to give them a better quality of life. Unfortunately, after a few years, they were struggling to find work or access social services, and suffered incidents of discrimination that made them wish to return to Moldova. Because they could not afford to travel themselves, they approached IOM to ask for assistance in returning to Moldova.

Tudor and Sylvia talked with IOM staff about the return process, and learned that they could also apply for a reintegration grant to help them start a business. Once in Moldova, they decided to start a fruit farm and purchased agricultural equipment with the assistance.

Through IOM offices in Moldova, they found an old tractor that they restored to functionality. They now have a total of 24 hectares of land that they are hopeful will yield enough crops to support their lives in Moldova. Sylvia said of IOM that, “All of the promises they made were delivered 100%. It was good.”