Acres of Diamond
ENESFR
Travellers walking through a sunlit airport terminal
Two travellers walking together through a bright airport terminal
A small-business owner standing in the coffee shop she opened
A large cut diamond resting in an open palm
A diamond merchant examining a stone through a loupe
Fine jewellery displayed in a lit showcase in a diamond store
Shoppers at the street window of a jeweller full of watches, rings and bracelets for sale
Rings, necklaces, bracelets and diamonds laid out for sale on a jeweller’s counter
Three volcanoes rising above Guatemala City
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia
Travellers walking through a sunlit airport terminal
Two travellers walking together through a bright airport terminal
A small-business owner standing in the coffee shop she opened

Share your return story

The Ones Who Returned is built on first-hand accounts from people who left, built a life abroad and went home to build something. If that is your story — or the story of someone you know — we would like to hear it.

Photographs: Briana Tozour, Cameron Cox, Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Film in production
Why your story matters1:15 · How The Ones Who Returned is made, and how your account is protected.

Who we want to hear from

A woman holds a diamond ring up to the light

≈ 1 million

Mexicans and their families, including U.S.-born children, moved from the United States to Mexico between 2009 and 2014.

Source: Pew Research Center, 2015

Photo Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

  • People who moved back to a Season One country — El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, the Dominican Republic or Mexico — and started or now run a farm, a factory, a clinic, a hotel or any other business.
  • People who tried and stopped. What went wrong matters as much as what went right.
  • Returnees to other countries, for later seasons.
  • Family members, partners and employees who can speak to a returnee’s work, with that person’s agreement.
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What happens to a story

  1. We read every message

    A member of the team reads what you send and replies by email. Sending a story does not commit you to anything.

  2. A first conversation

    If your story may fit an episode, we arrange a call to understand it better. Nothing is recorded without your permission.

  3. Checking the facts

    Anything we would put on screen — dates, figures, the name of a business — is checked with you and, where possible, against public records.

  4. Filming, only with consent

    We film only after you have signed a written release. You may withdraw before the episode is published.

  5. Before publication

    We tell you when your episode will be released and how you are described in it.

Read the privacy notice
  • Nothing you send is published without your separate, written consent.
  • We use your message only to consider your story and to contact you about it. We do not sell it, share it for advertising or add you to any mailing list.
  • If you prefer not to be identified on screen, say so; we will discuss what is possible before any filming.
  • You may ask us at any time to delete your message and any notes we have made. Our privacy notice explains your rights in full.

Tell us your story

Not ready to write yet?

Get notified when Episode 1 is released and see how The Ones Who Returned tells these stories.

Get notified at launch The Series