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Big, fat Greek dating site

Date: 2007-01-15

For years, Cypriots were introduced to each other through proxenia. The concept is given a modern twist on broxenia.com

AN ONLINE dating agency catering to Greeks abroad is, “helping people find love, so your family don’t have to.”

Broxenia.com, with a membership of over 1,200, is the only dating site in the UK uniquely for Greeks and Greek Cypriots.

With this policy, they ensure that members are able to create new friendships, thereby strengthening the Greek worldwide community.

The website is advertised as, “one big Greek family with members on five continents.”
Josephine Charalambous is the founder, owner and general director of the site and she gave us an insight into its origins.

“It all started many years ago. I used to have friends of both sexes come up to me and ask if I had any suitable friends to fix them up with,” she told the Sunday Mail.”

The 24-year-old, who is also a barrister, explained that within the Greek community, one
of the best ways to meet partners is through friend introductions, “but every time someone asked me, it always seemed to be at the wrong time, with all my potential set-ups already romantically involved. After years of people asking me, I started to think what if there are other people out there in the same situation?”

The Greek and Cypriot Community within the UK stands at over 500,000 people and Charalambous was sure that there were single people out there looking to meet their perfect match, but who had not come into contact with other single Greeks.

She said that there were a few venues for Greeks to meet in, but it dawned on her that an online forum would be the perfect place.

In the past, proxenia (which means matchmaking and can be pronounced with a heavy ‘b’ in some accents) was a feared custom that parents often tried to enforce on their children. The website offers a modern take on the practice - taking the traditional idea and adding a twist. “We cut out parental pressure that comes with family introductions so that you can take things at your own pace,” said Charalambous. “We give you the right to choose who you fall in love with. The marvel with broxenia is that even if you find you are not compatible with another member, you will have made a friend who will help you increase your social circle. A relationship is not a laughing matter, but it should be a light-hearted and fun period of your life without external pressures and this is what we offer.”

After two years of copious research and planning, the site was launched in the summer of 2005.
Many new members hear of the site through positive word of mouth on the Greek Grapevine, with people signing up from all walks of life.

“Unfortunately I believe it has become more difficult to find Greek partners. Our parents’ generation was very different, coming over from a young age to a foreign country and their parents were stricter. Socialising was more controlled, but in fact this was to their benefit. Having spoken to many of my parents’ generation, it seems that they used to thrive off house parties. People would invite all their friends to their houses and their parents would let them go, as there was parental supervision. Friends would bring their friends and people would congregate and meet other Greeks and get invited to their parties. It had an escalating effect on people’s social groups.

“These days such parties are a rarity and there are no real venues where you are guaranteed to meet so many Greeks in one room with the likelihood that some you know will be able to give you a recommendation about that person.”

She went on to say that the fact that so many people are second-generation Greeks living in the UK away from the Motherland means they have integrated with other societies, so their social groups are not purely Greek.

“Our community is not as strong as that of the Jewish Community and this is something I would like to change. The Jewish Community, although somewhat larger, has a solid infrastructure, where social events are organised weekly and advertised in the national Jewish press. Most younger Greeks do not read the Greek papers habitually, so there is no real way for them to interact.”

We decided to log onto the site and see what it was all about for ourselves. A quick search of women aged between 19 and 55 came up with some interesting results. The women varied in degrees of attractiveness and we were provided with their vital statistics, geographical location, education level and a personal profile.

However, when we tried to contact them, we were told we needed to register. Membership costs £5.99 for a week, rising to £100 for 12 months.

Broxenia has even made an appearance on YouTube, the popular video sharing website. The one-minute clip, accompanied by bouzouki music, explains what the site is all about and features a Greek-looking couple on a date at a bar.

“My proudest moment was last August while I was in Cyprus,” Charalambous said. “I received word that a couple from our site had got engaged. They met just after we launched and just over a year later, they decided to crystallise their love and get married.

It is proof that our service works and was the best reward I could have received after all the hard work I have put in. I have now been dubbed the Greek Cilla Black, so I better go and start buying some hats!”

TV Show
Charalambous is not resting on her laurels, telling us that the filming of a Greek dating show called Love Match has just taken place.

“A cross between Blind Date and X Factor, three women will get to choose from 12 men who will be vying for their affections and the chance to win an all-expenses paid, limousine and champagne date in Central London.”

The male contestants will have three tasks: To serenade the ladies in Greek, dance the ‘zembekiko’ and answer questions.

The show is likely to be broadcast across Europe on Antenna.

The dating agency bug seems to be catching
It seems that Turkish speakers do not want to be left behind, with the launch last month of UK-based dating agency canim-benim.com.

Subscribers are said to benefit from a mobile text messaging service bringing prospective matches to your phone. Other features include a Cultural Day, social events for the New Year, competitions, and views.

Canim Benim organisers told the Toplum Postasi site: “Canim Benim will offer new features you will not find elsewhere, certainly not under the same umbrella. There are many Turkish people out there looking for fun as well as love and this site aims to cater to everyone.”





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