Scientific and Research Association for Art, Cultural and Educational Programmes and Technology EPEKA, Social Enterprise, was founded in 2008.

EPEKA Association was founded as an initiative to connect creators of cultural, artistic, educational, scientific and technological content for the European Capital of Culture 2012 project. One year later, EPEKA proposed the Municipality of Maribor to submit  candidacy for the European Youth Capital title. Consequently, Maribor became the European Youth Capital in 2013. We continue our activity in the field of EU citizenship, EU values and intercultural dialogue. EPEKA also has branches abroad: EPEKA Czech Republic, EPEKA Austria, EPEKA Serbia, EPEKA Turkey and an informal group of youth EPEKA Armenia. We also have an affiliate branch in Ljubljana. EPEKA Association, Soc. Ent., is an association of public interest in the field of culture and an association of public interest in the field of youth. We are a non-governmental, non-profit organization, and we have been operating by the prionciples of a social enterprise since 2013. In addition to youth activities, we are also active in the field of culture and arts, volunteering, ecology and promotion of intercultural dialogue.Currently, we are focusing on the international mobility of youth and informal education (acquisition of learning competencies) in the youth field. In 2016 we have also established the EPEKA Youth Cooperative Society to support youth business.

Our Work:

Art

In the EPEKA Gallery at Koroska 8 we exhibit various works of art by known Slovenian and foreign authors: Tomaz Lavric, Marjan Mancek, Stojan Grauf, Konstantin Selikhanov, Brina Torkar, Serena Luna Raggi, Selma Selman, Marijan Amalietti …

Youth

We participate in and organize various youth projects. We focus on the EVS youth exchanges and training courses for youth workers. We are committed to youth with fewer opportunities and we collaborate on projects that promote the involvement of young people in the labor market, their active participation and citizenship awareness.

Social Entrepreneurship
We operate by the principles of a social enterprise. We focus on the active inclusion of vulnerable groups in social life and labor market.

Our main project is

LogotipRomaniKafenava 375x232

Roma restaurant Romani Kafenava which also operates by the principles of social enterprise, it invests all earnings into new employments. It is the first Roma restaurant across the European Union. Due to the unique Roma culture, diverse cuisine and inherent interior design, Romani Kafenava is a rare Slovenian and European gem. Roma people in Romani Kafenava offer Roma specialties, host groups, organize catering, they focus attention to each and every visitor and … believe it or not … offer the best fortune-telling.

Association EPEKA, so. p.

Gorkega ulica 34
2000 Maribor
Slovenija

Postaja – Station 

Preradovičeva 1
2000 Maribor
Slovenija

epeka@epeka.si
www.epeka.si
Romani kafenava: 040 933-990
Head office: 030 610-606

VAT: 62581350
Registration number: 4000919000
IBAN SI56 0417 3000 1488 756 (NOVA KBM, d. d.)

IMG_0148a

Contacts

Štefan Simončič, president of Association EPEKA, so. p.
Žiga Dobnikar, roma activator, project leader
Jerica Lorenci, expert worker, roma activator
Nermina Simončič, manager of the administration office, project administrator, manager of human resources in coordinator of public works, editor of www.epeka.si
Matej Tisaj, vice-president of Association EPEKA, so. p.
Miha Kager, project specialist
Nina Petrič, secretary Association EPEKA, so. p.
Mateo Horuščak, youth worker
Luka Murovec, architect, designer, project assistant
Anja Cehnar, project specialist
Petra Kovačec, project specialist
Erđan Dibrani, roma activator, public work
Petra Cikrovski, coach, personal growth workshops, learning assistance
Sašo Cikrovski, leader of chess workshops, mathematics instructor
Flurim Hasaj, chess workshop assistant

Urban Žunko, member of the presidency of Association EPEKA, so. p.
Aleksander Berglez, member of the presidency of Association EPEKA, so. p.
Jasmin Softić, member of the presidency of Association EPEKA, so. p.

Surveillance committee of EPEKA, so. p.
Marko Malajner
Jaša Prajnc
Marko Gorjak

Social enterprise board of EPEKA, so. p.
Štefan Simončič, representative of the founder of the social enterprise
Mario Mehmedović, representative of the workers of the social enterprise
Lea Cipot, representative of the users of services of the social enterprise

We are supported by the Employment Service of Slovenia, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, the Municipality of Maribor, the Youth Office, the EU Erasmus + program, and EU Culture.