Although Ayanda’s initial visit to Ireland, in 2006, began as a holiday, she decided to move to Ireland permanently with her daughter Esihle, where they lived for four years. Due to a particular series of events, Ayanda experienced financial difficulties and discrimination that made her feel as if Ireland could never be her home.

It was then that Ayanda made the decision to return to Cape Town where she could be reunited with her family and friends. She got in touch with the South African Embassy and they put her in contact with IOM. Ayanda met with IOM staff members who advised her on the possibility of voluntary return to South Africa with IOM’s Voluntary Assisted Return & Reintegration Programme (VARRP).“If it was not for IOM I really don’t know what would have happened to me and my daughter”, she explained.

On her return to South Africa, Ayanda found it challenging to find work as she was a single parent. Despite these initial hurdles she managed to get settled with the help and support of family and friends. Returnees can apply to IOM for a reintegration grant to help them settle back in their country of origin. The programme provides a small fund which can be used towards the financial costs of further education, training or establishing a business.

With this reintegration grant, Ayanda obtained a driver’s license, partially funded her daughter’s schooling and enrolled herself in a course in international relations and diplomacy. She found the support from the grant towards her daughter’s education particularly helpful as it provided her with more time to search for employment. “IOM’s reintegration assistance really helped me and my daughter to settle back home with very few financial problems.”

Currently Ayanda is looking forward to completing her studies in South Africa and also hopes to find part-time work. She would like to have the opportunity to live abroad again to pursue her career, an option that remains feasible as her passport was not stamped on her departure from Ireland.

Source: www.ireland.iom.int