AFRICAN MIDWIFE
Apr 20th, 2007 by kendi
Sophia Matgripli from Ghana has lived in Greece for 34 years. For her,coming and living in Greece was a journey into the unknown. As a qualified midwife from England she knew her options may be limited but she was ready to prove her mark. Within a short span she got a job as a midwife, an opportunity many thought would never materialize. Today after so many years she looks back and refers to her stint with the hospital as the most successful period of her life irrespective of the fact that she currently runs the first
Africa beauty parlour and school, which have become prestigious and a name to be reckoned with in Greece. She has opened shops in Pangrati, Vrillisia, and recently in Glyfada. She sees no obstacle to her continuous expansion and growth. She attributes all of her handiwork to sheer luck.I visited with her recently to find out what has made her an exception in Greece.
Sophia, TELL US ABOUT YOU?
Well, I am married to a Greek with two boys. The first will be getting into college this fall. I am the last in a family of five. I have both older brothers and sisters.
GUESS THAT MAKES YOU THE PAMPERED ONE THEN?
Not exactly. Ok, you could say that but I was a very determined young girl growing up, I knew what I wanted out of life and I always went for it. In my family I am usually referred to as the brain and most decisions aren’t made in my absence. I remember being the first girl to attend school in my
class. After I finished my basic education, I went to England to continue my study.
WHAT ABOUT GREECE? WHAT WAS IS LIKE FOR YOU AT THE VERY BEGINNING?
It was easy at the beginning. My journey into business started when I started traveling to the UK and came back with hair extensions and beauty products for my African friends. It got to a point that, well, after 16 years as a midwife, I decided I wanted to quit and go full time into the business. Setting up the business was not difficult, maybe because of my dual citizenship. I hear from other Africans that this is not an easy thing for them; they have to go through a lot of bureaucratic procedures which is usually hectic, making it difficult for them to operate smoothly.
AS A PIONEER IN THE BUSINESS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND AND SEE SO MANY AFRICAN SHOPS NOW?
It’s great to be the first in something, but I believe competition is wonderful. I am happy that there are numerous African shops now. It means people have a choice, and besides, I can’t fulfill all the needs of the growing populace. Monopoly is never good–there is room for everyone. The bottom line is that we need to satisfy the community.
EVERYONE RECKONS WITH YOU AND SAYS YOU ARE A SUCCESS. HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOURSELF?
I was successful in my profession as a midwife because the doctors I worked with saw me as a success. I love challenges and when I challenge myself, I always make an effort to struggle to attain that goal. Though success is not guaranteed, when there is life there is hope.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR JOB AS A MIDWIFE, ESPECIALLY AS A PERSON OF COLOUR?
My colour made me want to prove a point–that I can do as well if not better than my white colleagues. After my employment I was told by the matron that there was no question of employing me because I not only passed my interview at the first attempt but my total appearance and carriage spoke volumes for me. Again, maybe I was lucky or I deserved the position. Basically I think that knowing who I was, what I wanted, and what I had to offer spoke for me. The problem with many Africans living here is that they lack the basic education and knowledge about what they want to do when they get here. That’s why customers visiting my shop have respect for the shop and the people in it. And as well, the sales personnel respect the customers in turn. It’s a two-way thing.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW HAS GREECE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?
Greece is my first, if not second, home now. I have been able to build a business and own properties here. We are talking about 34 years of hard work. That’s a lot. Within these years I have traveled back and forth to my birth country and to other parts of Europe, so I can safely say this is my home.
THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY DO MOST AFRICANS SEE GREECE AS A TRANSIENT POINT WHEN YOU AN AFRICAN HAS BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT A HOME?
They can never see it as their home because first they see themselves as disadvantaged due to the fact that they are Africans, and hold a myopic view of view of Greece, as a transient point.
CAN THIS MENTALITY BE CHANGED?
I donbt it know, ok I have been here for a long timebut you know I could walk away from all this tomorrow. The issue is understanding that where ever you live at any time is your home. Try to make it one. And if youwant to achieve your objective, you have to make yourself comfortable, and work at building a home and a life. Steps to attaining these are very easy, they include first learning a lot, polishing your culture, learning rom people and teaching them too. If your idea is just to make money you will never be successful. There is no country that can easily acceptyou; your disposition plays a major role. When I finished my education in England, I went to Ontario, Canada where i worked for St. Micheals hospital, it was not easy for me, and I had to humble myself to learn. Besides, where was I running to, I was ready to learn so I my nails could grow long enough to scratch myself, if I had an inch anywhere in my body.
WHERE DOES YOUR INNER STRENGTH COME FROM?
Maybe my character and my love for challenges and when you love challenges, your paramount desire is to satisfy the hunger in you. This ultimately leads and gets you to your goal.
FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I will tell you something, my husband calls me a gipsy, meaning I can get up tomorrow, leave all these behind and start all over again. Tomorrow will tell.
WHATS YOUR ADVICE THEN FOR AFRICANS LIVING IN GREECE?
There are many opportunities in Greece. When I came to Greece, the Greeks had no idea that colored people existed. It was extremely difficult. My belief is not to see the problem in front of you but to look beyond that and believe in your ability to make a difference
where ever you are. The big question is this why the Greeks go to Africa our country and succeed; they thrive in what ever area they are involved in, you are aware of this. But you
know we come here and cannot succeed, we struggle without achieving anything.
Its also about respecting yourself with some measure of humility. My advice, stay but make sure you have a goal.
WILL THE GREEKS FINALLY COME TO TERMS WITH A GROWING MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND ACCEPT PEOPLE OF COLOR?
Greeks have a long way to go with Africans, Most are quick to say that they cant understand us, my response is always how can you understand a people when you
have not made out time for them, you basically ignorethem, if you dont cultivate a platform for interaction, you can never be knowledgeable. We all have families we still have problems with from time to time so what will make a larger society different.
On our part we can organize forums that will educate them and pass on the truth, that what they see on television and have heard about Africa are absolutely not true. The media does not give a true picture or representation of Africa. This again plays a role.
WHAT CAN CHANGE THIS?
I honestly dont know, I still go o places and I am referred to as mavri, a derogatory term for black or coloured people. But you know what I ignore them because my education has put me on a level where I understand that ignorance on their part is largely to blame. I have risen above the fact that they act negatively to my colour. I am African and very proud of my colour and rich heritage… We as Africans need to be proud of who we are and where we come from. Ignore people who are not willing to assimilate a new culture and people and educate those who are ready to learn from you and get to know you.