Experience Gained in Greece and a Small Business Idea to Overcome the Financial Challenges in the Time of COVID-19 in Georgia

In November 2019 Dali returned to Georgia after spending 14 years of her life in Greece. As many others, she left with an aim to help her family overcome financial hardships and pay for her three children’s education. In Greece Dali lived in a town by the sea. In addition to her job as a housekeeper, she used her home economics teacher’s skills and was sewing and selling beach dresses and clothes. With her hard work she managed to start a vineyard. Dali’s family also harvests nuts and runs a grocery store. Feeling more-or-less financially stable, at the age of 60 Dali returned home with IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration support. As part of her reintegration assistance she purchased a sawing machine and started working as a dressmaker. However, like others, Dali’s financial stability was affected by COVID-19. She adapted quickly though - she switched to sewing beddings and medical masks and received an order from a local clinic. She has already produced 1000 medical masks and 50 beddings. Even after the world overcomes COVID-19-related restrictions, Dali plans to continue her life in Georgia. She might still visit Greece, but this time, as a tourist.