The story of 45 year old UK Cypriot Kyri Kyriacou who found himself at rock bottom 16 years ago.He was born in Whittington Hospital and grew up in Tufnell Park before his family moved to Seven Kings in Ilford. His parents were from Cyprus his Father was from Ayioa Amvrosios and his mother from Patriki.He attended Chadwell Heath School followed by Havering College studying to be an electrician.
Kyri said “I made some bad life choices and ended up on the wrong path – a failed, very toxic and volatile relationship and some bad choices led me into a very dark place, I do however have two beautiful children from that relationship. My Mum, Dad and Sister were always a great support but sometime you can be so ashamed and so lost you cannot turn to anyone.
Homeless and lost, the council gave me a B&B in Ilford which was basically a drug den, I had a small loft room which wouldn’t even fit a double bed. The slope of the ceiling was directly above my bed so I had to slide out of the bed sideways to avoid banging my head.
It was during my darkest hour that I met my Wife Susan and I also turned to my Spiritual Mentor Archbishop Dr Costakis Evangelou MBE. He took me under his wing and gave me an opportunity that nobody else would.
I started attending and volunteering at the Apostolic Christian Church and that was the start of my new life. Archbishop showed me how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how to apply the biblical principles in my everyday life which I later went on to apply in my businesses.
If it wasn’t for the support of Archbishop and the leadership of the church I would definitely not be where I am today. I strongly believe ‘ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13
I also started helping at the Edmonton Eagles Boxing club which was part of Community Heart London and also helped with many other projects they ran.
Slowly I grew mentally, physically and spiritually.
After nearly a year the council gave me my own 1 bed flat and I was on the right path.
Susan and I got married, we have a lovely Son together. Combined we are now a family of 4 children and 3 Grandchildren.
By the grace of God I started a business and marketing business. “Just Productions International Ltd”. By low, sell for a small margin was my only business plan. Margins as small as £1 were fine with me – my principle was if I can do 100 deals like that a day £100 per day would be great. in them days, to me that was a lot of money.
I use to go to the internet café regularly checking for emails, I started targeting takeaways and small local businesses and after just one year the business grew and eventually became international serving clients as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo and our clients included Charities and schools, small businesses to large corporates such as Harrods, Olympus, Honda and Nike.
We bought our first home together and have gone from strength to strength ever since.
In 2016 I followed my true passion and launched Property Vine, A self employed UK Real estate model which was recently mentioned nationwide in The Property Industry Eye and worldwide on various press releases as far as China
I really want to encourage others that if I can do it, anyone can. In life there are always set backs. Our decisions will determine if we allow that setback to destroy us, or use it as a stepping stone to move onwards and upwards.– I believe for every three steps forward, we may keep falling two steps back, however that will always leave us one step ahead.
Former homeless man who ‘lived in a drug den’ and ‘scraped his pennies together for cider’ now runs successful global business
Now Kyri is a successful businessman who helps others grow their businesses
Kyri Kyriacou is 45 years old but you wouldn’t say so from his sharply groomed beard and tailored suits.
He owns an international marketing company and lives in his “dream home”, a three-bed, semi-detached house in Rush Green in Havering, East London with his wife and son.His house backs onto the trickling River Rom and he is surrounded by the heartland of the Chase nature reserve.
However, his life wasn’t as idyllic as this 16 years ago.
