How Sophia’s Salon Makes Self-Care More Accessible for Locals in Georgia

In 2018, Sophia made a tough choice - to leave her home in Georgia and move to Iraq in search of a better future for her family. Her family’s economic struggles made this decision a necessity. In Iraq, Sophia worked tirelessly, juggling two jobs—as a cleaner in a hotel and a stylist in a beauty salon. Her goal was clear - save enough money to start her own business back in Georgia.

“It was very hard being away from my children and working in a foreign country. My only hope was to save enough to make my dream come true,” – Sophia remembers, just like so many in her situation.

After four challenging years, Sophia returned to Georgia with her hard-earned savings and a wealth of new experience, determined to open her own beauty salon. With her extensive experience and passion for her profession, Sophia was ready to bring her dream to life. But her savings was not enough. 
 

Thanks to IOM Georgia’s project “Enhancing the Potential of Migration for Socio- Economic Development in Armenia and Georgia,” which is supported by the IOM Development Fund and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), she received a small grant that allowed her to open a beauty salon in her hometown of Vertvikhala, a village where residents previously had to travel 45 km to nearby cities for beauty services. With around 7,500 people in the village and surrounding areas, Sophia's salon quickly became a vital community infrastructure.

Recently, there has been a significant rise in the return of Georgian migrants. Thousands have come back, and in 2023 alone, IOM has assisted about 5,000 through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme. IOM data also indicates an increasing number of returned migrant women, many of whom are primary earners, including single mothers, widows, divorcees, or women caring for family members with special needs.
 

However, reintegration support is lacking, making returnees vulnerable and more likely to migrate again. The State Reintegration Assistance Programme's budget is insufficient, and due to limited services from other providers, only a few returnees receive specialized support.

The project aims to sustainably reintegrate returning migrants, leveraging their entrepreneurship skills to reduce vulnerabilities and inequalities. This contributes to the Global Compact for Migration, in particular Objectives 2, 6, 7, 12, 16, and 19; the 2030 Agenda — specifically Sustainable Development Goal 10 on the reduction of inequalities; and Objective 1 of the IOM Migration Governance Framework, which focuses on seeking to advance the socio-economic wellbeing of migrants and society. This initiative also supports Georgia’s Migration Strategy 2021–2030, which prioritizes reintegration.
 

“By allowing returnees to utilize their resources and boosting their employability skills, the project is making a big difference in helping return migrants in Georgia to reintegrate smoothly. We are seeing the positive impact of the project and are fully supporting its implementation,” said Koba Lursmanashvili, Mayor of Kharagauli Municipality, where Sofio lives.

Sofio considers herself fortunate to have received help from IOM. Without it, she wouldn’t have been able to support her family and might have been forced to migrate again.

“Thanks to the support from IOM, I not only managed to rebuild my life, but I also created employment opportunities for others in this salon. They are incredibly grateful. We serve four neighbouring villages, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has helped me,” said Sofio.

Her salon, aptly named “Sofio,” now offers a range of beauty services and employs two other women who were unable to find work in their home village and were contemplating migration. Alongside Sofio’s salon, IOM Georgia has supported approximately 11 business initiatives and community revitalization efforts, including furniture manufacturing workshops, auto repair shops, a greenhouse, an agri-touristic space, and an iron workshop.

IOM is committed to enhancing infrastructure and capacity at both national and local levels, aiming to improve access to information and counseling for returned migrants, and to support services which can boost their reintegration prospects. The Municipal Service Hubs, established by IOM Georgia in partnership with local governments, function as direct reference centers for returnees and for those migrants who are considering returning from abroad. These initiatives help provide much-needed goods and services to local residents, while also improving the community’s social infrastructure.