Leri Papidze moved to Poland in 1994 in search of new opportunities. The ceramic artist, who specialises in making 'kvevri', pots traditionally used for making wine, said the assimilation process was slow but now Poland feels like his second home, adding that his talent for meeting people helped him settle in.
As more Georgians move to Poland for work, they are establishing informal networks to help each other navigate through Polish bureaucracy.
Georgian IT manager Avtandil Mamalashvili said that in the western town of Wrocław where he lives, there are no formal organisations to help new arrivals, so migrants are helping one another.
Traditionally a country of emigration, Poland has become an increasingly attractive magnet for immigrants, especially from neighbouring former Soviet republics such as Ukraine and Belarus, as it notches up high rates of economic growth. Georgians also benefit from schemes such as six-month work visas which allow them access to Poland's thriving economy.
Former circus acrobat Zurab Torchinava, who now works as a security officer and a translator, said that moving to Europe was a dream come true.
However, not all Georgian immigrants have found the move easy.
Maia Nesuashvili and Nana Gamcemlidze both work as domestic workers. They said they both paid two men 1,500 euros to help them submit documents to get residency and work permits, but the men disappeared, leaving them out of pocket and at risk of deportation.
Georgian political scientist Irina Tkeshelashvili said that this problem is not uncommon.
Not applying for permits in time is the main issue facing Georgian immigrants, meaning many immigrants are threatened with deportation due to either their employers' or their own delay, said Tkeshelashvili.
In these circumstances, the informal migrant support groups have become invaluable. Nesuashvili and Gamcemlidze were lucky enough to meet Tochinava, who helped them re-submit their documents and now they can stay legally in Poland.
Those in the networks try to help others whenever they can, even if they don't have much time on their hands, Mamalashvili said.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters