The Global Compact on Migration makes a strong call to facilitate sustainable reintegration into the community life of returning migrants by granting them identical access to protection and social services, justice, psychosocial assistance, professional training, employment opportunities, and decent work.

For this reason, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Honduras implements the Comprehensive Migration Response Programme in Central America. One of its areas of focus is generating livelihoods for people returning to Honduras through training processes, psychosocial support, skills development, and the purchase of materials for the launch of micro-enterprises. This is done through the involvement of local governments, strategic partners, and the private sector.

“I never lost hope of moving forward,” says Miguel Ayala, as he molds the parts to form one of the chairs that he produces in his carpentry workshop. He is one of the beneficiaries of this programme and obtained seed capital to start his own business as a carpenter.

On his part, Pedro Madrid, with great emotion, talks about his new ventures. “I managed to establish my motorcycle sales business and a chicken farm that produces eggs that we sell in my wife’s grocery store.”

Meanwhile, at her home in Chamelecón, Jenny Vásquez has established her own beauty salon where she attends to her clientele daily.

Around the world, thousands of people return to their communities with great uncertainty. Like Miguel, Pedro, and Jenny, in 2022, IOM supported about 2,000 returnees or community members with technical employment strengthening or seed capital for their ventures.

“After returning home, the process was not easy, but today I can say that, thanks to the success of my ventures, I have achieved the economic independence that I had always aspired to,” says Pedro with a sparkle of joy in his eyes.

This story was written by Erick Escoto and Ismael Cruceta of the Communications and Public Information Unit of IOM Honduras.