London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and a beacon of opportunity for many internationals. People flock to the UK capital for many reasons, with work being cited as the most common reason, according to The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
Greece is not alone in sending a regular flow of migrants to the UK. The City of London Corporation recently estimated that there are between 280,600 and 300,000 Greek speakers in Greater London alone.
However, being an immigrant in the UK and making that decision to live in another country can be difficult. Fortunately, social media can be a life saver for people looking for information regarding advice about living abroad as well as an opportunity for people to create social groups.
In December 2019, Alexandra Chrisanthi Mastoraki, 34, decided to create the Facebook group Greek Ladies in the UK, in an effort to bring Greek women together and attend group activities.
“There was a need to create a space, both metaphorically and technically speaking so that every woman can express her opinions, her problems, to create friendships…like a network of support between women that find themselves in British lands,” she says.
With five women taking on roles of admin and moderators, the group started with over 3,000 members in its first year, has currently increased another 500 and still growing. According to group ambassador Elisavet Grigoriadou, 28, members who want to join the group reach outside the UK.
“We get requests from Greek women in countries such as Germany, Spain and other places as they think about moving to the UK or want to generally contribute,” she says.
Every week, ambassadors of the group write a weekly column. Elisavet has a passion for creative writing and her column is titled Poetry, Romanticism & Re-determination. “I try to, either from pieces that I write or that I choose, to constitute, so to speak, the text inspiration/reflection, but again with relevance to re-determination, the existential question. This is one part of the groups contributions, columns like articles.”
Elisavet joined the group shortly after it was created and continues to post her weekly articles as well as contribute to group events and other group functions.
“Now, slowly slowly we’re widening our horizons. We have partnerships with other professionals and organisations as well as influencers that are also involved in subjects such as mindful health, so to speak something that’s opening our network.”
First group meetings started face-to-face but due to the pandemic changed to virtual events. Activities range from public speaking, seminars revolving around mental health to Yoga and Zumba classes and much more!
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