Faces of Immigration in the UK

Eva is from Spain. She moved to the UK a year ago and has been working for the last five months

The economic crisis of 2008 had a major impact on the economies of European countries. Now many countries remain on the verge of collapse with high unemployment and poverty. Young people, often highly educated, are among the victims of this situation.

In an attempt to escape from bad economic conditions, young people decide to migrate in other European countries with fewer economic problems. The citizens of European Union are able to move freely among the other countries of the Union and that fact facilitates their decision.

The UK is among the first choices for immigrants, with people from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, France, Czech and other countries coming to the UK in pursuance of a job and better life conditions. However, in most cases these people do jobs irrelevant of their academic degrees in order to make ends meet. Moreover, they have to learn to communicate in a new language and grow accustomed to new habits. They have to face different cultures, lifestyles, and weather conditions.

All these parameters may be appear interesting in the contemporary, globalized world, but the migration is never an easy matter. It is a situation, which tests your sentimental situation and your maturity to stand up on your own feet. You are alone in a foreign country.

Photographer Leonidas Toubanos captured these images of immigrants in the UK waiting impatiently for the moment of their return to their hometowns.

Marios is from Greece. He finished his four year degree in the UK and has been looking for a job for six months

Marianna is from Greece. She has lived in Edinburgh for three years and has found work for the last six months

Anastasia is from Greece. After the completion of her studies she moved to Edinburgh where she now works

Julien is from France, and after the completion of his studies five years ago he moved to the UK

Rodi is from Greece, and moved to the UK two years ago, finding work after six months

Dimitris is from Greece, and after living in the UK for five years and having completed his studies, he is currently looking for work

Florent is from France, and has lived and worked in the UK for six months

Laura is from Italy, and came to the UK looking for emplyment more than a year ago. She has been working for the last eight months

Lefteris is from Greece. He came to UK on September and is currently trying to find a job

Jiri is from Czech Republic. He came to UK over three years ago and has been working in the country for the last two years

Loukas is from Greece, and has been in the UK for two years. He has been unemployed for six months

Cecilla is from Spain. She came with her sister to the UK in July and currently lives in a hostel whilst looking for a job

Hugo is from Portugal and he has been in the UK looking for work for the last four months

Belinda is from Spain, and moved to the UK six months ago. She has been working in the country for the last seven months and lives in a hostel

Catia is from Portugal. She has been in the UK looking for work for the last four months

Eva is from Spain. She moved to the UK a year ago and has been working for the last five months

Gambriela is from Greece. She moved to the UK eight months ago and is looking for work

Manos is from Greece. He moved to the UK five years ago to complete his studies, and is now working