Miki grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has lived in Wigan since 2012.
Miki is a local childminder and the founder of a community interest company, Ekhaya Empowerment, which aims to alleviate poverty amongst women from marginalised communities through Empowerment, Education and Integrate into local communities.
To help mark Black History Month, Miki tells us more about her journey, her secrets to successful integration, and why she is ‘Proud to Be' from South Africa.
Miki
I’m a born and bred Jo’Burg girl and English is my first language, which has been a definite advantage in terms of connecting with local people and builders friendships.
I moved from London to Wigan in 2012. Then, we were one of only two Black families on our street, but I found I made friends quite quickly.
My daughter was due to start primary school soon after we arrived and I ended up being the chairperson of the PTFA for three years and this became a great way to meet new people in our school.
I set up Ekhaya Empowerment C.I.C because I knew that a lot of women from marginalised backgrounds were struggling to find a place for themselves in the community and make friends. ‘Ekhaya’ is the Zulu word for ‘home’ and I believe that if you move to a new place you have to do your best to make it your home. Lots of people who move to the Wigan Borough from different backgrounds don’t relate to it as home, but it’s important to find your place in your new community and make it your home too.
Having conversations with people in your community will make a difference. I do that a lot and it’s made me realise that the majority of people in the borough don’t hate “new arrivals”, they just don’t know us yet, and unfortunately people like to stick with what they know.
Most people are open to conversation and want to ask questions and find out more about you. I love older people because they are less afraid to ask questions, and if we’re receptive to that, it’s a great point of education.
I feel like there’s an expectation on people who’ve grown up in Wigan to receive people into the borough but less expectation on those coming into the borough to get to know Wigan’s heritage and culture.
There are lots of people who have lived in the borough for years but have never tried lobbies, or fish and chips, or a pie with mushy peas, or even know who Wigan Athletics are. I try to encourage people to engage and learn more about the history and interesting facts of our borough.
The theme for Black History Month is, ‘Proud to Be…’ and I am proud to be a South African woman living in the midst of Wigan. I do miss home. I miss the weather! Although, I speak to my mum every day, tech willing, I still miss the family support, the food, and uninvited guests.
I think community spirit is something that is strong in both Wigan and South Africa. It’s funny as lots of people in the area I live in, in Wigan, know me now, when I go into Tesco they’ll say, ‘the kids have just been in.’
My Wigan community isn’t my biological family, but I think if everyone makes an effort then people from lots of different backgrounds can still form a tight knit community.
If you would like to share your story, get in touch by email pr@wigan.gov.uk.