How do I socialize as a vegan?

With the rise of veganism in Greece in recent years, more and more people are radically changing the way they see the world and making different decisions about their lives and diets. However, such major changes often lead to friction and arguments with friends and relatives, who cannot understand why their loved ones suddenly stopped eating meat, dairy products and eggs and decided to explicitly oppose the way they themselves lived until recently.

For this reason, most people, when they become vegan, look for new friends, groups, and companions who share common beliefs and goals, and who better understand their feelings and thoughts.

But how easy is it for a new vegan to socialize from the start and gain new relationships with people from the vegan community?

Let's look at some easy ways that can help with better networking!

1. Thematic groups on Facebook

Joining vegan groups on Facebook is the easiest way to meet other vegans. These groups usually have thousands of members from every corner of Greece, many of whom are also interested in meeting new people and making vegan friends. In addition to general interest vegan groups, such as the “Vegans in Greece” group and the “Vegetarians and Vegans of Greece” group, there are dozens, if not hundreds of different groups that focus on specific parts of Greece (Corfu Vegans, Chania Vegans, Thessaloniki Vegans, etc.) as well as specialized groups such as the “Vegan Parents” group for families with young children and the “Vegan Runners” group dedicated to the country’s vegan runners.

2. Participation in activist groups and organizations

Joining groups and organizations that are active on the street for animal rights and environmental protection is one of the most direct ways to meet people with common interests. Anyone can join these groups, as long as they agree with the goals and methods of action of each organization. If there is no active group in the city where you are, all you have to do is join the relevant groups and invite as many people as are interested to a get-to-know-you meeting!

3. Volunteer work in Vegan and Vegan friendly non-profit organizations

Volunteering at non-profit organizations, animal shelters, and other organizations is another way we can connect with other people who share our goals and vision.

Don't forget that Vegan Life NGO needs volunteer support all year round, but even more so during the activities and events it organizes. Contact us at ngo@veganlife.gr to learn how you can become a member of the big vegan life family.

4. Vegan Picnic Organization

Organizing a Vegan Picnic in the area or city where we live is the most fun way to network with Vegans and vegetarians who live near us but have not met. The process is simple: All we have to do is create an event on Facebook and share it with all the relevant groups in which we participate. In our invitation, we can put a park or beach with easy access as the location, and ask those who come to have cooked some Vegan food for us to share together. After all, it is known that food is the easiest way for people to come together!

5. Join the Veganuary challenge

Participating in the Veganuary challenge is another easy way to combine gaining knowledge with socializing with people who share the same values as us. Veganuary is a 31-day exclusively vegan diet challenge for a transition to a Vegan lifestyle that takes place every January. In Greek, Vegan Life runs the challenge, in collaboration and under the guidance of the international organization Veganuary. Through a daily newsletter with recipes, nutrition tips, informational material on ethics, the environment and health, Veganuary helps us in an easier and faster transition to a vegan lifestyle. At the same time, by participating in the challenge, we can join the thematic group Veganuary Greece where we will meet old and new vegans and become members of a large and active group of young people with common interests.

Written by: Elli Stourna