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We are privileged to honor and share with deep respect the experiences of migrants and/or returnees who have been assisted by ASODDHH and IRARA and who have gradually been able to improve their quality of life. By sharing these stories, we seek to generate empathy, awareness, and understanding regarding global migration, which is a matter for everyone.
On this occasion, we are pleased to present:
Alonso is a Colombian who migrated to Portugal seeking international protection due to the presence of illegal armed groups in the city where he lived. Due to a lack of information, he received news that he had to return to Colombia.
Alonso decided to participate in the Reintegration Program offered by Frontex in Colombia through IRARA and ASODDHH. Although he initially felt very discouraged, through psychosocial sessions he regained his enthusiasm.
Alonso decided to settle in another major city in Colombia so he wouldn’t have to risk his life in conflict zones again. He also found work in his field of expertise and, thanks to the reintegration program, acquired a motorcycle as a means of transportation and equipped his new home with essential items.
Participating in the Reintegration Program changed his life and gave him the opportunity to settle in a new city in his country.
In addition, we have:
Miguel, a young man of just 25 years old, returned to Colombia in July from Portugal. Miguel didn’t know how to earn a living, but after the psychosocial sessions he received through the Frontex program, led in Colombia by IRARA and ASODDHH, he managed to overcome his migration grief and turn his life around.
Thanks to the Reintegration Program, he strengthened his productive vision of construction. Although at first he only saw himself as a self-employed worker, today he has his own company and enjoys several contracts with construction companies that require his professional services.
This is Miriam, a 26-year-old woman who emigrated to Finland seeking to improve her quality of life. After receiving the news that she had to return to her home country, Colombia, she saw a new opportunity.
The program that Frontex leads through its partners IRARA and ASODDHH gave Miriam all the tools she needed to establish herself and strengthen her productive idea.
Today, Miriam has her own carpentry business and receives daily contracts to beautify homes and businesses. She is very grateful for the Reintegration Program.
Ana Lucía is a young Colombian woman and single mother whose story reflects resilience, the ability to rebuild a life plan, and the importance of humanitarian support for migrants experiencing situations of vulnerability.
Approximately three years ago, Ana Lucía was forced to leave Colombia due to the difficult security conditions she was facing in a rural area near Barranquilla. At the time, she had managed to develop a small business that was gradually growing and represented a source of income and an opportunity for her to move forward with her son. However, the presence of armed actors in the area and the threats she received, including demands for the so-called “war tax” in order to continue her economic activity, made her continued stay in the area increasingly difficult and dangerous.
Faced with this situation, and seeking to protect her son and ensure better conditions for her family, Ana Lucía made the difficult decision to migrate to Germany in the hope of beginning a new chapter in her life. Once there, she initiated an application for international protection, which was accepted. Nevertheless, her stay in the country was accompanied by a number of challenges.
Adapting to a new environment, learning the language and balancing her work responsibilities with caring for her young son limited her opportunities to secure stable employment. On many occasions, her working hours conflicted with her son’s care and support needs, making it difficult for her to maintain continuous employment. In addition, she faced difficulties relating to her immigration and documentation status, to the extent that the German authorities asked her to consider returning voluntarily to Colombia.
In this context, Ana Lucía became aware of the possibility of participating in a voluntary return and reintegration programme, supported by IRARA and ASODDHH within the framework of European cooperation. This alternative enabled her to return to Colombia with appropriate support and to access a process aimed at rebuilding her life plan.
Upon her return, she received timely psychosocial support and assistance in identifying her abilities, needs and goals, which enabled her to establish a life plan with short- and long-term objectives. Through hard work, determination and the support received throughout the process, Ana Lucía was able to make significant progress towards economic independence.
One of the main achievements of this new stage was the purchase of a motorbike, which became an essential tool for carrying out her work. She currently works as a delivery courier for a well-established company in Colombia, where she has a stable income, statutory employment benefits and flexible working hours. This allows her to provide for her family while also meeting the needs of her son.
For Ana Lucía, returning to Colombia did not mean giving up on her dreams, but rather finding a new opportunity to rebuild them based on her own circumstances. Today, she recognises that the support she received was fundamental in transforming a period of uncertainty into an opportunity to regain her independence, strengthen her capabilities and look towards the future with renewed hope.
Ana Lucía expresses her deep gratitude to the institutions, organisations and professionals who contributed to this return and reintegration process, as well as to the cooperation programmes that provide dignified and supported alternatives for migrants experiencing challenging circumstances.
Her experience demonstrates that a supported return can become the beginning of a new opportunity. Beyond simply returning to a place, it means regaining confidence, rebuilding connections, strengthening personal capabilities and having the tools needed to begin planning for the future once again.
Ultimately, Ana Lucía’s story is one of resilience, hope and new opportunities: the story of a woman who, despite the difficulties she encountered along the way, chose to start again and build a more stable future for herself and her son.