When my nephew, Michael Yiakoumi,
mentioned to me for the first time the idea of producing a
book about achievers within the Greek Cypriot community in
Britain, I reacted negatively...
I do not like the idea of classifying people according to
their success without reference to their background, notably
if they had enjoyed a privileged position or were deprived
of any advantage. If one judges achievement by result, one
runs the risk of missing the main point which is related to
the amount of effort made. One may try very hard, but for
one reason or another which maybe beyond an individual’s
control, one may fail to reach a successful goal. But after
further consideration of the suggestion for a book of achievement,
I agreed. Three main considerations influenced my decision:
- The tremendous attachment Greek Cypriot parents feel towards
their children. Any Greek Cypriot parent who settled here
as an immigrant would tell you his decision to emigrate
was taken for the sake of his children’s future.
- The considerable effort made by the second and third Greek
Cypriot generations to overcome disadvantages at school
and in life. Greek Cypriot children born in this country
do indeed find themselves facing a number of disadvantages.
They are brought up in a family environment different from
local customs and usages, the language which they hear constantly
at home is so different from the one that they hear at school,
not to mention the different traditions with which they
have to get familiarised. When at the age of five at nursery
or school, they find themselves in a different atmosphere
alien to what they got used to at home, they do feel isolated
and strangers especially when they are separated from other
children in order to attend special classes in English.
- The high rate of achievement in so many walks of life,
as one will notice going through this book, is in itself,
a living proof of the right balance they have struck between
their national identity and their contribution as citizens
of this country in its everyday life. The second and third
generation Cypriot has one part of himself with his parental
family and the other part with the wider world of this country.
If one can find these concepts reflected in this book, the
project will be worthy of the effort. It is for you, the reader,
to judge.
Kyriacos L Tsioupras, Editor |
