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

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.