It took 3 months for Varinder Singh to reach Austria from India. Instead of traveling direct, he had to cross forests, hills, mountains, jungles, and borders of Ukraine and Slovakia to enter Austria.

Varinder was finding it difficult to meet family needs and started exploring different options to earn more. His friends motivated him to travel abroad for better earning.

During that time many people were going abroad illegally, so he also decided to take this opportunity and travel abroad in 2016. He paid Rs.4, 50,000/- to the agent for German Visa. His happiness turned into shock when he came to know that instead of Germany he was going to Moscow, Russia.

After reaching Moscow he came to know that there are 8 other men from different parts of Punjab who are also going with him. Two agents from Moscow had taken them to cross the border through dense forest, mountains, and rivers.

After reaching Austria he went to a Refugee camp and where the police have taken his interview and fingerprints and provided him with a white card. He was then shifted to another Refugee camp where he got accommodation and food.

In Austria, he could not find any job as he doesn’t have a work permit visa. During this period, he approached Caritas Austria where he received support for room rent and some money for food. Later he made friends with the Punjabi people and got some petty jobs like paper distribution or as a helper in agriculture where he used to earn 25 euro per day but that too also was not regular.

He realised that this is not the life he has expected, he regretted his decision and requested Caritas Austria to help him to get back to his home country. During the perilous journey to reach Austria, he lost his passport to return. He contacted his family to send his other identity proof so he can make an Emergency Passport for the Republic of India.

Caritas Austria is a member of European Reintegration Support Organizations (ERSO) which works closely in the field of migration and development to provide impartial counseling and/or assistance to migrants in regular or irregular situations regarding their voluntary return and reintegration. Caritas Austria contacted Caritas India, the local service provider of ERSO network in India for supporting Varinder’s case of reintegration.

Caritas Austria helped him to prepare the necessary documents, booked the ticket and provided 250 euro.  After reaching Amritsar Airport he didn’t face any problem. He reached his home and staying with his family again but was always accused by his family to spend so much money for going abroad.

Navjeevan Charitable Society, the local partner of Caritas India met Varinder and provide him basic counseling and business consultancy support to utilised his reintegration package of 3000 euros. After reaching India he tried hard to look for a job but could not get satisfactory opportunities. He decided to join the family fast food shop which was run by his elder brother. He wanted to invest his reintegration package in the same shop for selling candy, ice-cream and bakery items including fast food. As per the selected business, Caritas local partner discussed his micro plan and developed the micro plan for the fast food business.

He is happily settled in his hometown with his family and leading a satisfied life. He still recalls his ordeal during his journey but now he is content to be back with his family. The reintegration package has helped him to extend his fast food shop.

“In a month, I can earn INR 30,000/- after all the expenses from the shop and satisfactory lead a happy life”, says Varinder. He also adds that now he will not go to any other country.