Stories Untold - Return of Georgian Migrants: Lelo Beradze

My husband took a loan for our family, so in 2004 I decided to go to Greece to work and pay the debt. I couldn’t make any savings. I sent home whatever I earned. Although I was very lucky and worked for very warm and friendly people, I still wanted to be with my family. I was also thinking, that after my return home we would need some sort of income. So, I wrote a business plan.

When I left, nothing was working in Tskaltubo, which had always been an attractive place for tourists, because of mineral water. While I was away, I kept hearing that it was becoming a popular tourist destination. I decided to renovate an extra room in my house for tourists. I didn’t have the equipment, but I received the assistance from the International Organization for Migration. With IOM’s help I bought a washing machine, TV and other things that I needed. We do not have many visitors yet, but we hope that this will change soon.
 

Photo: Dina Oganova