Description of the integration initiative implemented
Integration into Spanish society has been achieved through:
- Relatives already living in Spain took her in on her arrival.
- Working as a caretaker for elderly in Spanish homes, ensuring that she was provided with board and lodging.
- The cultural similarities between Spain and Colombia, which meant that she did not feel too much as a stranger.

Personal story
The woman interviewed comes from Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). She arrived in Spain in September 2019 fleeing a complex family situation caused by a harmful partner. She waited until her daughters and son were older and started the university to leave Colombia. She thinks that now they can live on their own and they have the support of their father, mother and sisters of her. She sends money from Spain to meet their financial needs.
The protagonist is a teacher. She taught primary, secondary and adult education in her country. In Spain, she would like to be able to work in her profession. For this reason, once she manages to regularize her situation, she will begin the process of validating the teaching qualification she obtained at the University of Cartagena de Indias. Another of the alternatives she is considering for work is to start a business related to gastronomy, due to her previous experience in her country of origin, where she had a food shop.
Her nationality is Colombian, however, she hopes to obtain residency documentation in Spain. She believes that if she can prove that she has been working here for three years with contracts, it would be easier for her to obtain the regularization. Although she considers that she has not had any major difficulties in Spain, for her it is a priority to obtain a residence permit and regularize her situation so that she can visit her children.
Her migration project was initiated with the help of relatives who had been living in Madrid for many years. They provided her with the tickets and everything she needed to travel to Spain, although she was responsible for paying for all the formalities. On her arrival, she also received help and guidance from her family (pick-up at the airport, instructions on how to use the metro, etc.)
Shortly after moving to Spain, she found a job as a caretaker for an elderly person in Cádiz, where she has been looking after elderly people in various places in the province. Afterwards, at the request of a family, she moved to Granada to look after an elderly lady.
Currently, one of her goals is to continue working and earning money to support her family, including her parents. She thinks that in Spain she can earn more money.
She has a good feel for the Spanish population, although she has not established many relationships, only with the families in whose house she worked. She has a Colombian friend with whom she goes out sometimes.
She does not find many differences between Colombian and Spanish women. She thinks that in both countries women are more independent, enterprising and confident than before.
In relation to the contributions that the migration Project has made to her life, she believes that it has given her peace of mind, independence and more economic resources.
Her expectations for the futures are to continue living in Spain and to regularize her situation so that her daughters and son can come to visit her. Although she is considering family reunification, she prefers that her own daughters and son decide if they want to come to Spain to live once they finish their studies.

Analysis of the initiative and individual story
The main initiatives to improve integration have been:
WORK:
- Finding a job as a caretaker shortly after arriving in Spain. This made it easier for her to interact with Spanish families.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT:
- Her family living in Spain facilitated her arrival and adaptation to the Spanish context.
NETWORK AND PARTICIPATION:
- She has atended some meetings organised by the Church of Cádiz. Although she felt supported at these meetings, she currently lives in Granada and does not attend any meetings.
- Her main social relations come from her work.
CULTURAL IDENTITY:
- She does not find many differences between her culture and the Spanish one, so she has not felt discriminated against.
- She maintains contact with her children and relatives in Cartagena de Indias via WhatsApp.
- She has contact with a Colombian emigrant with whom she stays in Granada.
RESILIENCE STRATEGIES:
- She is very religious and trust that God will help her.
- She thinks that the most important thing now is to work so that in she can regularize her situation though work in the future. This way she could be reunited with her family, whom she misses very much.

Results and Impact
The migration process has had a beneficial effect on the interviewed woman’s life, mainly in the persona sphere, as she recognizes that she feels calmer. It should be kept in mind that the main reason for leaving her country was personal, fleeing a conflictive situation with her partner.
On a professional level, she has not improved, but she earns more money and this is a priority for the wellbeing of her daughters and son, who are still in the process of studying at university.