Yuliana and her children moved to Ireland in 2008 because Yuliana heard that she could find good work there. The family lived in Ireland for one year before Yuliana realized she would not be able to support them. She could not find a consistent job without a work permit, and her children did not have adequate access to health care. 

Yuliana missed her family and decided to return to them. She had heard about IOM from other Brazilian migrants. She made an appointment to apply for voluntary return. Yuliana also learned that she could apply for the IOM reintegration grant once in Brazil.

After returning, Yuliana and her children lived with family. She immediately applied for the grant and purchased a sewing machine, so that she could make clothes to sell in local markets. She does not earn enough to support the family yet, but she will be able to soon.

Yuliana is glad to have returned to her family but also misses Ireland. “I have a son who was born in Ireland. Maybe one day I will have an opportunity to take him there so that he can get to know the country he was born in.” Six months after she returned, Yuliana was saving for her own house.

“If you do not have work, the best thing to do is to return home, where you were born and you can communicate with people.”

 

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