ACTIVITIES

Active since 2009, the group’s portfolio includes over 70 activities most of which based in Varna, with a few significant exceptions. At first sight, the variety may be confusing: from visible annual festivals, large mural projects, graffiti and street art international jams, to events in such diverse spheres as architecture and urban planning, youth migration, mental health, astronomy, robotics, literature, various contemporary visual arts, ornithology, public discussions, street sports, dance etc. The variety of topics and types of events, however, recognises the fact that the city is inhabited by different young people, each with their own interests, ideas, abilities and personal story, and we work to create – by means of such events – points of contact among these interesting individuals. We value the courage it takes to harbour your individuality.

Amorpha believes in youth-led youth work. This means that action for young people should best be undertaken by young people themselves. We strongly support such efforts and prefer to see young people as agents of ideas and their implementers rather than as recipients and task-assigned volunteers. It is exactly our modus operandi. Also to this purpose, we continue to promote the format of youth groups as a realistic way to make young ideas come to life. We have gradually realised that the spirit of non-formal initiatives is in fact an integral part of the spirit of our time with its numerous improvised, unpremeditated but informed actions embodying the ideal of personal freedom.

The team has taken a steady interest in living space transformation. Active in the city, we become more and more concerned about urban planning and the various aspects of urban dynamics. We think cities should be transformed and made alive by the citizens who inhabit them. This is also because we believe in citizenship and that citizenship is about active, daring and responsible change. Such responsibility sometimes speaks more fluently to the future than to the present and is at times difficult to accept.

The work of the group focuses on life in the local community as the immediate environment which shapes young people’s identity. Some of its aspects are formed by diversity in the community.

This includes the specificity of local foreign diaspora, traditional minorities, economically and ethnically vulnerable communities, and other marginalised groups. Moreover, we see ourselves as advocates of such groups.

Advocacy is among the more abstract activities we undertake, but its impact is expected to be farther-reaching. We stand up for young people’s rights, believe in their responsible empowerment and make sure they do not forget those they represent. We take special care to include girls and young women in our activities, especially those which otherwise commonly exclude them.