From the Dominican Republic to London: The Migrant Story of Zaida Florián | Dominicans in the UK
Zaida Florián arrived in London in 1997 for two months.
Almost 30 years later, she continues building community.
A Dominican woman born in Neiba, raised in Santo Domingo, she has been an educator in the UK for over 26 years and is the founder of Dominicans in Action.
In this discussion, we talk about:
✔️ Migrating after the death of her brother
✔️ Surviving domestic abuse
✔️ Getting married and divorced in the UK
✔️ Raising children as a migrant mother
✔️ Learning English from scratch
✔️ Experiencing national mourning for Princess Diana
✔️ Buying her own house as a single mother
✔️ Graduating with honors in the UK
✔️ Building a Latino community from the ground up
✔️ The birth of Dominicans in Action
This is a true migration story.
A story of loneliness, rebuilding, and community leadership.
If you're Latino in the UK or thinking about emigrating, this episode is for you.
💬 Let us know in the comments:
Do you identify with any part of this story?
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📸 GUEST
Guest: Zaida Florián
Instagram: / zaidaflorianuk
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🎬 CREDITS
Director: María Victoria Cristancho
Instagram: / mariavictoria.cristancho
Editing and Post-Production: The Creative Design UK
Website: https://www.thecreativedesign.co.uk
Instagram: / thecreativedesignuk
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⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 – The death of Princess Diana and mourning in the UK
01:56 – Introduction of Zaida Florián
02:22 – Dominican Republic: Neiba and Santo Domingo
07:14 – Traditional music and mangulina
11:14 – Mischievous childhood and discipline
13:44 – Unfinished studies and life lessons
17:28 – Bachata and Dominican youth
20:05 – Arrival in London in 1997
21:12 – Death of her brother and domestic abuse
24:45 – Decision to stay in the United Kingdom
29:23 – Marriage proposal in Greenwich
32:32 – Reunion with her children and immigration procedures
32:48 – The impact of Diana's death
34:48 – Betrayal, Divorce and Starting Over on Your Own
37:44 – Graduating in the UK and Buying Your Own Home
42:10 – Talking About Abuse and Female Resilience
44:36 – Raising Children as a Migrant Mother
46:00 – Community Work and Youth Leadership
49:16 – How Dominicanos en Acción Was Born
54:43 – Advice for New Migrants
57:42 – Final Message and Juan Luis Guerra