Tutei's Woodwork

When Tutei could not find work in Mongolia, he decided to go abroad. Some of his family members lived in Ireland, and they invited him to stay with them. For three years, Tutei was able to find temporary jobs but no steady work. In 2010, he became unemployed for several months, and could not support himself anymore.

A neighbour told Tutei about IOM, and he applied for the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme. He began making a business plan immediately so that he could apply for the reintegration grant in Mongolia. He used the fund to purchase woodworking and electrical tools, but the work was very irregular. Eventually, he was hired to work in Mongolia’s expanding mining industry. In his spare time, he is still able to take small orders for woodwork at home.

After he returned, Tutei found it difficult to reintegrate for the first six months. He experienced culture shock, and found that prices had become more expensive. But Tutei was also pleased because he thought that Mongolia had become more diverse. He felt that he had returned at the right time to the right place. He has no intention of going abroad again.