Inês* came to the Netherlands looking for new opportunities, but after returning home, she is now starting over in Brazil as a young mother.
We meet Inês at a small café near her home, in the neighbourhood where she has lived since coming back. The waitress serves us Pamonha, a local treat made from cornmeal, coconut milk, and cheese, wrapped in corn husks. As we enjoy this dish together, we talk about her return and how she is doing now. Her daughter just turned one and recently started daycare, giving Inês the chance to share her story of resilience and determination.
View from the plane on the journey homeLooking for opportunities
In 2024, Inês worked as a software developer at a bank and visited the Netherlands for the first time on a business trip. Soon after she got back to Brazil, she lost her job and couldn’t find another. Instead of waiting for things to improve, Inês decided to try her luck in the Netherlands.
In her first few months, she worked in different hostels and moved from city to city. She was surprised to find so many Brazilians living in the Netherlands, each with their own story and background from all over Brazil. They kept in touch through WhatsApp groups, sharing tips and advice.
When her visa-free stay ended, Inês got a job in hospitality. She worked long hours for low pay and rented a small room from her employer’s friend. She was always tired and worried about being found out and deported.
In the Netherlands, I kept thinking: ‘What if they find out I don’t have a residence permit?’ I was constantly afraid of being deported.
Returning home, with a baby on the way
After her grandmother died, Inês chose to return to Brazil and start over. Soon after, she found out she was pregnant. When she told the father, he left and cut off contact. On her own, she tried to find him through different consulates because she wanted him to take responsibility.
In Brazil, this also matters for practical reasons: she needs to name the father to get certain support. She looked for advice from different sources, including a WhatsApp group for Brazilian mothers in the Netherlands. At this time, she wished she had more support and guidance as her life changed so quickly.
With IOM’s assistance, Inês returned to Brazil. Her daughter was born, and with IOM's support, she rented a home. After three months, she began teaching English online, so her daughter could stay at home with her.
A street in the neighbourhood where Inês livesA new life as a mother
Inês has friends and family nearby, but being a single mother is still hard. As a Black woman, she has faced racism during her pregnancy and job search. Coming home is never simple, but for Inês, it is also the start of her new life as a mother.
Everything is new to me. I have to find my place in society again while adjusting to motherhood. It’s not easy.
Right now, life is mostly about making ends meet, but Inês is determined to create a better future for herself and her daughter. With her daughter in daycare, she has more time to look for work. She hopes to return to the IT field one day.
Life in Brazil is not easy, but as Inês herself puts it: ‘At least here, I am somebody.’
*To protect her privacy, we have changed her name
