Come for the Silence, Stay for the Song – Discover Ubuntu in Bulgaria

In a small village nestled in the Bulgarian mountains, where clouds drift by like whispers from another world and time seems to slow down, something unusual is happening. It's called "ubuntu-ubuntu" – and behind this doubled name lies a philosophy that is anything but simple. It’s a place where African wisdom meets the grounded power of Eastern European soil, and where people from all over the world gather to rediscover something often forgotten: each other.

Ubuntu. A single word that carries immense meaning. In Zulu, it roughly means: "I am because we are." It speaks of a deep human bond that unites us beyond language, nationality, ideology, and background. This is exactly what the project in Obidim seeks to create – and to live fully.

A Village in the Shadows, a Light in Our Time

Obidim is a place most people have never heard of. But that is also its strength. Situated in the Pirin Mountains, at around 1200 meters altitude, overlooking valleys that breathe history and old trails that hold thousands of footsteps from those who came and went in silence. Here, ubuntu-ubuntu was born – not as a business venture, but as a calling.

The founders, a group of creative souls from different parts of the world, were united by a shared feeling: the world needed something else. Something softer. Something healing. They found each other, and they found Obidim. Here, there was space. Here, there was stillness. And here, there was a local community ready to meet something new – as long as it came with respect.

Ubuntu – More Than a Word

The philosophy behind ubuntu-ubuntu isn’t just about living together. It’s about truly seeing each other. Building up instead of tearing down. Cultivating not only the earth, but also relationships. It takes shape through a small guesthouse, through gardens, workshops, yoga, crafts, music, and dance. But above all: through conversation.

People come here planning to stay a week. Then they stay for months. Some move here completely. Someone came just to find themselves, but instead found others. Someone came for silence – but began to sing.

It’s as if the place whispers to all who arrive: "You are welcome to be you here. And to be with us."

A Community That Builds the House

The small house that is now Ubuntu Guesthouse was rebuilt with hands from around the world. An engineer from Germany, a yoga teacher from India, an artist from France, a carpenter from Plovdiv. Everyone contributed what they could – not just to create a physical space, but a home. A home where it doesn’t matter what you do for work or what’s on your CV. What matters is what you want to share.

The garden surrounding the house is cultivated collectively. No pesticides, only care. The vegetables are shared, recipes circulate. Someone learns to bake bread, another to build greenhouses. And most importantly: no one stands alone.

A New Form of Work

At ubuntu-ubuntu, work isn’t a necessary evil. It’s an integrated part of life, something that brings meaning. Here, people are allowed to try, fail, and try again – without being judged. There’s a sense that everything is constantly moving, but without stress. Growing as a human being is more important than producing results.

At Ubuntu Hub & Garden you’ll find workshops and open discussions. Topics range from permaculture, self-healing, and collective intelligence to circular economy. There are lectures, but also dance nights. Meditation, but also laughter.

Obidim – A Place for the Future

That such an initiative would emerge here, in Obidim, is no coincidence. The village is symbolic of many challenges facing both rural areas and the world: depopulation, unemployment, a lack of hope. But with ubuntu-ubuntu, the village has found new life. It has become a place where old wisdom meets new ideas.

And it’s not just a project for young Western seekers. The elders in the village have become involved. They teach how to sew, how to milk goats, how to preserve food for the winter. In return, they receive stories from other cultures, help with roof repairs, or simply companionship at the table.

A Story Without an End

Ubuntu-ubuntu is not a place you visit. It’s a story you step into. And when you leave – because eventually you will – you carry something with you. A softness in your step. A renewed curiosity about people. A wonder at what is possible when we choose to collaborate instead of compete.

It’s easy to be cynical these days. To think the world is becoming colder, harsher. But in a small village in Bulgaria, there is living proof of the opposite. A place where warmth is built by people. Where strangers become friends. Where a word from Africa comes alive in the mountains of Europe.

Ubuntu. Ubuntu.

We are – together.