Back to the roots

"Shall we sit here?" Yes, of course, a lovely spot to sit, here on the Görlitz side of the city. The Old Town Bridge and the Neisse River in the background, the sun is shining, time for a chat. Izabela Jucha looks around and smiles dreamily. She has arrived, arrived in Zgorzelec, in Görlitz. A long journey lies behind her and her family. Izabela Jucha is a returnee. At 19, she left her home country of Poland and went to England – like many of her compatriots. Her job: executive training. At the moment, however, the 35-year-old is at home. The family has been living in Zgorzelec for six weeks. Izabela Jucha is from Bogatynia, her husband from Zgorzelec. He works in the electronics industry, among other things, programming automotive electronics. "He's currently building up a business in the region," says Izabela Jucha. She herself is currently making contacts to return to her profession.
 
Twelve years in England, four years in Canada – that's the young Polish woman's life story. "You know, we had a good life in Canada," she says. They both earned good money, and yet something was clearly missing. Then, in England, came Brexit. Returning to her roots, that's how Izabela Jucha explains her decision to come to the Neisse region. "We researched online what opportunities were available to us in the area," she says. That's how the family came across the website of Europastadt Görlitz-Zgorzelec GmbH (EGZ). They're actively recruiting Poles willing to return after Brexit. And they've resumed their efforts. "Due to the coronavirus crisis and the associated restrictions, we had suspended our communications," says Managing Director Andrea Behr. Now, however, EGZ wants to get back on track.
 

There is a great deal of uncertainty

The campaign aims to showcase the quality of life, opportunities, and unique advantages of living in the German-Polish European city and the surrounding region, specifically targeting Poles in Great Britain who are considering relocating. Is Britain's exit from the European Union truly a reason to move back to Poland, perhaps even to the Neisse River? Yes, absolutely, says Izabela Jucha. "I've spoken with many fellow Poles. There's a great deal of uncertainty about what will happen after Brexit," she explains. Consequently, many are considering moving. This is where the EGZ (European Community Center) comes in. "We've already achieved high reach and strong engagement on social media. We're now building on this with further initiatives," says Managing Director Andrea Behr. "Of course, we know that a decision to change one's place of residence isn't made spontaneously. Therefore, we're not hoping for short-term results, but rather taking a long-term approach to the project," she says.
 
For Izabela Jucha and her husband, Brexit wasn't the only factor in their choice of new home. It was probably also the years spent in Canada that influenced the decision. "We wanted our daughter to get to know her grandparents. They live here," says Izabela Jucha. Her daughter is 14 years old and goes to school in Görlitz. She is enthusiastically learning German. Izabela Jucha is also trying her hand at the language. "I can already say a few sentences," she says. Otherwise, she speaks fluent English and, of course, Polish. In addition, the Canadian weather did influence the decision to move somewhat. "We had six months of winter and hardly ever left the house. And that with a teenager," Izabela Jucha says with a smile.
 

Good opportunities for a new job

The daughter, at least, doesn't want to return to Canada or England. "She's happy here," says Izabela Jucha. She herself visited Görlitz/Zgorzelec about seven years ago. "Compared to then, the city has been a surprise to me. It has developed very well," says Izabela Jucha. The Polish woman is optimistic about finding a job soon. She believes the city offers good opportunities. The head of the European City Development Corporation agrees. "For the location to grow in the long term, we need more residents and qualified professionals – both nationally and internationally," says Andrea Behr. Izabela Jucha now lives with her family in Zgorzelec. Has she ever considered moving to Görlitz? She waves the idea away. There are other things to sort out at the moment. "But you never know what the future holds," she says.

Source: Sächsische Zeitung, August 6, 2020.
Text: Matthias Klaus.
Photo: Paul Glaser

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