When Signe Vanaga and her husband left for Ireland, their goal was clear: to earn enough money to build a home and a future for themselves in Latvia. Initially, the plan was to go abroad for about five years, save money, and then return home. Although life abroad opened up new opportunities and experiences, the thought of Latvia never disappeared.
“We are both from the Madona area. We left with a specific goal: to save money for our own home. We did not want to start our life with large loans. We wanted to create our own family nest ourselves,” says Signe.
Already in the first year, the family managed to buy their first apartment in Madona.
“When we came home on holiday, we bought an apartment. It gave us a sense of security – if we ever wanted to return, we would have a home of our own and would not have to start everything from scratch,” Signe recalls.
Over time, their goals became bigger. The apartment was followed by a plot of land, dreams of their own house, and a more spacious living environment. While living in Ireland, the family continued to work and save, while also taking the opportunity to travel extensively across Europe. However, despite the opportunities and stability, the idea of returning to Latvia increasingly became their main plan for the future.
The decisive moment came when Signe was expecting her first child.
“At one point I said to my husband – when are we going home? I realised that I did not want to raise a child away from Latvia. We had already achieved what we wanted. Then my husband handed in his resignation, we bought tickets, packed up all our belongings, and went back to Latvia.”
Upon returning to Madona, the family decided not to look for employment elsewhere, but to build their own business. The idea came from observations in Ireland, where personalised embroidery on clothing, towels, and various souvenirs was popular.
That is how the company “Izšuvumi Madonā” was created. At the beginning, everything was learned independently. While her daughter was still small, Signe learned how to work with embroidery machines, created her first designs, and looked for clients. Today, the company serves both private individuals and businesses, offering personalised embroidery, workwear branding, and a variety of custom orders. Its clients are not only in Madona and Latvia, but also abroad, including in Ireland.
Alongside entrepreneurship, the family has successfully settled into life in Madona. Signe admits that in Latvia she truly feels that she belongs.
“Abroad, no matter what position you hold, you will always be an immigrant. Here, we organise our own lives. Here we have family, friends, nature, and the feeling that we are at home.”
She particularly values the opportunity to live close to nature.
“Here there are forests, meadows, flowers, and birds. You step outside and can enjoy it all. It is something that is missing elsewhere.”
When asked what she would recommend to those who are still considering returning to Latvia, Signe emphasises that they should not be afraid.
“Do not be afraid to return. If a person has a goal, anything is possible. What matters is not simply leaving or coming back, but understanding why you are doing it. We had a goal when we left, and we had a goal when we returned.”
In her view, life abroad is a valuable experience, but nothing can replace the feeling of home.
“No matter how difficult it may be at times, here we have our own people, our own language, and our own place in the world. This is home.”