She recounts how her kids were collected from her and she hasn’t set her eyes on them to date
Our readers would like to know Teresa Diop?
Hello everyone, I’m Teresa Diop from Sierra Leone. I used to be Mansaray before I got married to a Senegalese and later got divorced. I’m a mother of three beautiful children, two girls, and a boy. I’m a believer.
When did you come to Finland?
I came to Finland on 17th June 1998, about 22 years ago. I was about 12 years old when I came to Finland with my twin sister. What amazed me the most was the diversity of people, the different colours of the eyes, and the way of life here. The snow and so many other things that you can’t find in Africa. Overall, I love the nature and the people.
It’s been 22 years now, how has your stay been?
My stay has been a roller coaster, a lot has happened in my life. When I came to Finland with my twin sister (Diana) that was when we got to know our father who left us while we were still a child and travelled abroad in search of greener pasture. Our father was very happy to reunite with us and he wanted us to become tennis superstars like the duo of Serena and Venus Williams. His dream for us was for us to become the first notable black tennis players in Finland but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. We played tennis for about 7 years and participated in some tournaments. My life took a dramatic twist when I was 16 years old. I moved out of my father’s house due to some issues and I was living with the social. I was under the grip of juvenile delinquency. I was under the care of social for 2 years until I turned 18. During this time, I saw the flip side of life. I thought I was abandoned by my family and I needed to face life all by myself. There was a time I even ran away from the youth house where I was staying and my abode was the Central Railway Station in Helsinki. During this time, I was moving with gangs who smoke, drink, and commit all kinds of vices. I became a street girl.
……What about your twin sister?
During this time, my twin was at home, she later joined me at the government house for the youth. My twin and my father had a good relationship back then, even up till now. My father always sees me as the stubborn one because of my stand on some issues but thank God for the good relationship that I’m having with him now, back then it was not easy.
You made mention of your father and your twin sister, what about your mother?
My mother is still in Sierra Leone. Due to some circumstances, she didn’t come to Finland with us. Notwithstanding, I’m in contact with her, we talk on the phone almost every day, and I send her money whenever she’s in need. She has never visited Finland, hopefully, she will visit someday. My prayer is for God to grant my parents a long life so that they could reap the good things they have sown in my life. That’s what my Bible tells me.
It is often said that twins are inseparable, no matter what. Does this relate to you guys?
Well, I love my twin very much. She has always been my voice. While growing up, I was the shy type, not approachable but my twin has always been there to defend and cover-up for me. We barely argue but that doesn’t mean that we are always on the same page all the time. When I had my first daughter Naomi, then she was yet to have hers, she took Naomi like her daughter. I see her children like mine. That bond is still very strong.
The name of your beauty salon is “HiusKimallus”. How did the name come about?
The meaning of HiusKimallus means hair sparkle, hair glitter, something shining. When I came to buy the shop, I was moved by the name and I said: ” I think I have to make use of the name” because I had wanted my name “Teresa” to be beneath a name or a brand.
What made you go into this kind of business?
I never chose this but back then in high school, I used to braid my friend’s hair whenever we have our mini-break. They are always happy whenever I fix their hair and they say to me, Teresa, you are a stylist, you should apply for a stylist school, you are good and I do derive excitement from that. After about one and a half years of pressure on me to apply for a stylist school, I decided to apply. I applied for hairstyling at ABC Hius Opinto and I paid about €7000 for the 11 months program. I paid it myself, not Kela, why because this is a vocational school that I wanted for myself. I attended school every day from 9:am to 6 pm. I graduated in 2005, and I worked for all of the big salons at Itakeskus, Iso Omena, Kamppi, Jumbo, Hakaniemi, etc. There’s no place you will mention Teresa that someone will not say she knows me when it comes to the hair business. It’s been about 16 years that I have been into this and my work has taken me to places like Milan, London, Barcelona, and Cyprus, etc.
Have you worked with an African or a foreigner?
Yes, I have worked with an African lady back in 2016 in a salon called Hius Fashion at Ruoholahti. I have also worked with a foreigner. I’m very excited when I see Africans opening different kinds of businesses in Finland. It means a lot of changes are underway. It brings a lot of joy to me whenever I see African entrepreneurs waxing stronger every day.
What is unique about Hius Kimallus?
The uniqueness of Hius Kimallus is about the stylist herself. I bring joy, beauty, glam, and happiness to my clients. I make them feel relaxed and give them value for their money. Whatever that’s negative you bring to my salon, by the time I’m done with your hair you will forget about it. Every customer means a lot to me, we are one family. I see my salon as a big living room where we can all share our feelings, worries, fear, etc
At Hius Kimallus, I create a lasting friendship by giving you the best treatment you can never get elsewhere.
Have you ever turned down a client before?
I turned down a client based on the racist comment she made. I felt that we are all one and everyone should be respected irrespective of the skin colour. Though the client that I turned down didn’t use a racist comment on me but another person. I thought it wouldn’t be nice for me to keep quiet that’s why I acted by turning down the client. This is a salon that’s opened to everyone and we need to respect each other. Speaking ill of a person just to praise me is not good. The client wanted to pay a huge amount to make her hair but I overlooked that I did what I felt was right for me.
Have you ever been in a situation where you make someone’s hair only for the person to be disappointed?
Hahaha, so many times, most especially in the beginning. Anyway, it’s part of the business. Sometimes, a client will bring a picture and tell me this is what he or she wants and at the end when I’m done I could tell from their reaction that it did not go down well with them. Then I will just tell them not to worry that I have also been there, that in two days he or she will get to know that the style was good. Trust me, in two days I will receive a phone call from the client telling me that I’m right that he or she is getting used to the style. No one is perfect, hairstylists learn something new every day.
What are the challenges you are currently facing in your line of business and location?
Lack of full support from my people. I can say that about 10 percent of support comes from my people while 90 percent of support is from the Europeans. We need each other for our business and community to grow. For me it’s disturbing. I’m an entrepreneur who is changing the negative narratives, I represent the black woman entrepreneur in Finland who is making an impact and our kids are happy at what we do. We the blacks need to change our mentality. Supporting your brother or your sister wouldn’t make you lose anything. As an entrepreneur, what gives us joy is when we see our people showing support for our business and service.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Business-wise, I would like to expand it. I’m looking forward to having another place much bigger than this where I could rent out styling chairs. Anyone who wants to fix their customers’ hair can rent the chairs and have their hair styled. I also want to open a fashion shop. As for me, I want God to transform Teresa into the person He created her to be. I have seen a lot in this my young life. I have seen the ups and downs of relationships. I was married to a Senegalese guy before and we both have two kids but we got divorced over an infidelity issue. In 2016, I found out that the guy had an affair with another lady while we were still married and they both have a child. I got to know about it and that was where the problem started. As for me as a believer, I have forgiven him but I do not want to stay in the marriage anymore. I don’t want to do what other ladies would do, that is, being unfaithful. For that reason, I decided to walk away. My ex-husband came to me and said he wanted to travel to Senegal to see his mother who was sick and he would like to travel with our kids. I told him that even though we are still going through the divorce papers, my kids are still his and I do not wish to deprive him of their access. According to him, the mother will get well if she sees her grandchildren. As at that time, my boy was 4 years old and her sister was 2 years old. I took three weeks from their daycare because of the holiday. I looked into the eyes of my ex-husband and I told him that I trust him and I will be praying for his sick mother. I prayed with him and handed the Finnish passports of the kids to him and on 11th September 2016, they travelled to Senegal for holiday. A week later, I received a phone call that changed the Teresa you are seeing today. He called me and said “you will never gonna see your children again” This is 4 years that my kids were taken from me and I have been going through trauma. For 9 months, I and Naomi my eldest daughter were under depression. All efforts to get my kids back proved abortive. I even contacted the foreign ministry and they couldn’t proffer any help. I contacted a lawyer and nothing was done to bring back my kids. The authority permitted me to travel to Senegal to get my kids back but my ex-husband’s family refused. I was even afflicted with a strange illness. It was God that healed me if not, I would have been dead by now. There was a day I cried to God for intervention. I told God to give me peace that is not from this world. If this is how he would change my life, let it be. I remembered how I helped my ex-husband in settling down. It was through me he got his papers and it was through me he was able to get integrated into the society, but look at the evil he did to me. Before I became a born again Christian, I used to club a lot. I take alcohol, smoke, and engage in some unholy act but thank God, I no longer do those things. God spoke to me, telling me to forgive my ex-husband, that the place he is taking me to is greater than what I have experienced before. And as soon as I forgave him, great joy and peace overwhelmed me and that’s what changed my entire life. Today, I bless this man that took my kids away because I know someday they will be restored to me. God has been faithful to me despite the flip side of life. It was through the situation that I got to know God, feel his presence, and live for him. The relationship I have with God is awesome. For two years now I have never touched alcohol, I haven’t been to the club. I have not been into any relationship like the way I used to go about it. The only relationship that I’m in now is the relationship with the Holy Spirit. I dreamt of owning a beauty salon but I never knew that it was going to come this fast. It’s now 4 years and my kids are yet to return to Finland. I strongly believe and trust in God that at his own time he will make it possible.
Is your ex-husband back to Finland after absconding with your kids?
Yes, he is back in Finland living his normal life while my kids are in his home country with his family. Senegal is the only country where the government of Finland doesn’t have the power to go and get the kids back. Let me state this, for 7 years we were together, he never wronged me, he cares and he has always been a provider. When I got to know of his immoral act that was when the whole thing changed. God did not want me to focus on the pain that was why I never went for revenge even though my kids were taken from me, it has never stopped me from worshipping God Almighty. I know one day my kids will be restored to me. I opened up to you because I have to encourage someone out there going through the challenges of life not to lose hope.
Are you open to any relationship?
Yes Obi, a godly relationship.
What message do you have for anyone going through what you have gone through in life?
Put God first. Let God be your guide and he will comfort you and direct your path. Find time to pray to God, speak to God and he will answer you. For 4 years, God has sustained and strengthened me. There is no pain that is greater than God. Don’t worship or magnify your pain. Commit it to God in prayers and you will see him manifest in your life. If I could worship God and live for him at 34, you too could do the same
