From Colombian Refugee to Helsinki Entrepreneur

Helsinki, Finland – Stephania Perez Prieto, widely known as Stefi, has carved out a significant life in Helsinki since arriving from Colombia with her mother as a refugee in 1999. Hailing from Cali, Stefi has successfully built a new existence, integrating her own culture into the diverse urban fabric of Helsinki.

The adaptation to a new country and its cold climate presented initial challenges. Stefi recalls her first encounter with a Helsinki winter. "When we arrived, it was minus 27 degrees Celsius. Back home, it was always at least 32 degrees warmer," she laughs. The reserved nature of Finnish people also initially felt foreign. "People were polite but kept their distance. At first, it felt like a closed community, but I soon learned to discover the warmth behind it."

After completing high school, Stefi decided to introduce Colombian flavors to Helsinki by launching Colombia Mía, a pop-up offering Colombian street food. "I wanted to introduce Latin American street food to Finnish culture, and I hoped that other foreigners would feel encouraged to share their own food and culture too," she says. The venture proved highly popular, and to Stefi's delight, many other Helsinki residents with foreign backgrounds have since felt inspired to share their own cultural offerings.

Helsinki offers unique experiences, in Stefi's view. She enjoys spending time with her dog, which is welcome in many city locations. Additionally, Stefi, a former swimmer, embraces the winter swimming and sauna culture available at Helsinki's public facilities, such as Löyly and Allas Sea Pool. "Winter swimming in cold water makes you feel like a champion," she states. She is also enthusiastic about Helsinki's growing creative community and the importance of supporting local entrepreneurs.