More than four years ago, Yuliya found herself in Slovakia without accommodation, money, a residence permit or any other prospects. She could not and did not want to stay in Slovakia in this situation, so she approached the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with a request for help with her return home. She successfully returned to Ukraine and decided to begin a new life in the capital. You can read about it in her older story. We visited her after a couple of years and we were curious how her story has continued since.

IOM helps migrants even after they return home. It offers them reintegration assistance, which can be used to stabilize their situation, secure their basic needs and start activities to ensure their livelihood for themselves and their families. Yuliya made use of this opportunity as well.

Yuliya from Ukraine. Photo © International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Upon her return, IOM supported her vocational training and Yuliya successfully completed a hairdressing course. IOM provided her with professional hairdressing tools, reimbursed costs for study materials, temporary accommodation and personal documents.

Today, Yuliya lives and works as a hairdresser in Kiev, she has regular customers and a job that she enjoys and in which she can apply her artistic talent. She was able to build her life from the scratch on her own and in a new place. During our meeting we captured her story and her life after returning to Kiev on a camera.

"Adaptation after my return was difficult, but thanks to reintegration assistance, I got a new profession and I can live in the capital, "says Yuliya.

And what are her recommendations to all migrants who are in a similar situation as she was?

To find out, watch her story:

Find more information on IOM assistance to migrants with their return home from Slovakia: www.avr.iom.sk/en.

(The names of the persons have been published with their consent. / The names of the persons have been modified to protect them.)

Voluntary Return and Reintegration in Country of Origin (Individual Project). This project is co-funded by the European Union from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Home Affairs Funds.