The sense of belonging can transcend places of birth and citizenship certificates. Whether due to family roots, extended stays or homesickness After leaving Galicia to live elsewhere, the impression Galicia leaves on some people manifests itself in several ways. But he … The desire to return to this land – or to discover it for the first time – involves obstacles: insecurity, lack of means, lack of knowledge of the environment or installation procedures… This is why, to facilitate the start of a new stage in Galicia, La Xunta develops the Galicia Returns 2023-2026 strategy; and, in this context, the Emprego Qualifice line, which offers users a permanent employment contract based on their profile and the needs of the Galician labor market, as well as support and support throughout the transition and help in accessing a rental.
It is intended to Galicians by birth who emigrated, descendants or people who resided for at least six years in Galicia before leaving. Each year, the program launches a new edition. The most recent one is keeping calls open this month and plans to benefit 200 people. Three of the voices who took part in the last one, in 2024, tell ABC what their experiences were – and are – after crossing “the pond” and opening a new chapter on the other side. One of them is Macarena Lavinia, who lived in Argentina the first two decades of his life. It is the land that welcomed her maternal grandmother, originally from Pontevedra, when she arrived from Galicia at the age of fifteen. Her granddaughter, aged twenty, arrived in Poio (Pontevedra) after being selected for the program.
He feels this as a “goal achieved”. The visit he made to his grandmother in 2023 was decisive: “I went home sad… I said, ‘I want to stay here,'” remember. But uncertainty was an obstacle. “I didn’t want to come like that, totally adventurous. “It made me very nervous.” It was his mother who sent him the publication of the program via the networks. From there, the process led her to a job fair in Buenos Aires where he had his first interview, designed to frame your profile. An intense process awaited her, but she had help and was not alone; appreciates that both the human team of the program and the Ronsel Foundation They helped him “with everything”.
When he arrived in Galicia, his landing coincided with the death of his other grandmother, which made things “much more difficult”. She was able to find some emotional stability thanks to her work: “I was able to stay busy. If I hadn’t had a job, I might have said ‘I’m not cut out for this’ and decided to go back,” she reflects. Today he lives in Poio (Pontevedra) and appreciates the welcome he found there, He says “the people are very friendly.” After four months of adaptation, the next goal he sets for himself is to study psychology. For now, coming to Galicia is a little dream that she thought would not come true “any time soon” and that she will be able to share with her maternal grandmother, who plans to return to her native country to live with her. Recommend experience: “If they gave me the chance to do the show again, I would. The hardest part is being far away, but it’s worth it.”
Departures and arrivals
Bruno Alonso, 23 years old, Uruguayan and grandson of Galicians, He also grew up hearing stories of emigration. He visited Galicia in 2017 and was shocked by life in the cities: “I was really in love with this place” admits. It was his mother who encouraged him and his brothers to sign up: “She encouraged us to sign up. In the end, I was the only one selected. He hopes that in the future they can all come.”
Bruno Alonso
In their case, the job fair was held in Montevideo and, as with Macarena, the remote interviews marked the beginning of a process in which He felt supported by both Retorna Galicia and the Nortempo Foundation: “There was follow-up, they helped me with everything.” Before setting foot in Galicia, I already had my contract, and even the accommodation was arranged before my arrival: “They took all the steps for me, I already had accommodation.”
He lives in Sigüeiro, where he feels welcomed: “I always try to talk to the neighbors and from the start everyone helped me.” In his work as a machinist at Vegalsa, the good atmosphere with his colleagues also made his adaptation easier. Although he admits the loneliness of starting from scratch, he plans to stay: “I really like it…I plan to stay.” And he recommends the program without hesitation: “Totally recommended… It’s a totally radical change.”
Luis Miguel Roche
Luis Miguel Roche, Cuban, is the great-grandson of a Galician emigrant and had never been to Spain. At 25, he arrived just a month ago and is still perfectly adapted to “the climate, the gastronomy” and the schedule: “Arriving here was one of the challenges I faced, but it’s a matter of getting used to it,” he concludes. He also appreciates institutional support and the Venancio Salcines Foundation. to orient yourself and navigate the vast bureaucracy from day one. They also made it easier for him to find accommodation and, although sharing accommodation is not common in Cuba, he found the stay “very pleasant” with his “excellent” roommates. After only a month in Boiro (La Coruña), Galicia continues to be a constant discovery for him. It is too early to know if he will stay for the long term, but he dares to imagine a vital project: “The next step would be to become independent and then bring in my wife.” And, like Macarena and Bruno, one thing is certain: this experience is “a great opportunity” that he intends to take advantage of.
About The Author
