Quick Look
- Charts the development of the innovative community of Sekem which was originally founded in 1977 in the Egyptian desert
- Outlines their vision for a transformation of Egyptian society through developments in holistic education, the creation of a recycling economy and the promotion of renewable energy
- An incredible story of sustainability, self-sufficiency, social transformation and the power of community, that will be relevant and inspiring worldwide
- Co-written by Helmy Abouleish, the Chief Executive of Sekem and son of founder Dr Ibrahim Abouleish
The remarkable story of Sekem, a sustainable community which thrives in the Egyptian desert. Explores their pioneering vision for the future in ecology, economics, culture and social change. Important and inspiring.
Description
When Dr Ibrahim Abouleish founded Sekem in 1977, his visionary aim was to create a new kind of sustainable community in the Egyptian desert where high quality biodynamic crops were grown, where workers and residents received holistic healthcare and their children received a meaningful education. In the years since, Sekem has gone from strength to strength, building an impressive network of farms across Egypt and Sudan, and working with local populations to bring about real social change.
In this inspiring book, Helmy Abouleish, son of Dr Abouleish and Chief Executive of Sekem, alongside Christine Arlt, describes the next stage in the development of this innovative community. Through a series of pioneering projects, they set out their vision for an integrated transformation of Egyptian society in the coming decades in areas relating to ecology, economics, culture and social transformation. Among them:
-- the provision of holistic education that recognises the potential of each person;
-- the promotion of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy to help Egypt become climate neutral;
-- the development of a recycling economy based on responsible consumption and a sustainable lifestyle;
-- a celebration of diversity that ensures equal opportunities for all.
Through its practical efforts, Sekem and its community demonstrates how people the world over can feel empowered to shape their own society and develop confidence in the future.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface 7
PART 1: THE SEKEM INITIATIVE 13
1. Introducing Sekem 15
2. Sources of Inspiration 18
3. The Sekem Symphony: From Initial Vision to the Present 28
PART 2: THE SEKEM VISION GOALS 37
4. An Overview of the Sekem Vision Goals 39
5. Culture 43
- Vision Goal 1: Lifelong learning 60
- Vision Goal 2: Holistic research 64
- Vision Goal 3: Integrative health 67
- Vision Goal 4: Arts and culture 70
6. Ecology 74
- Vision Goal 5: Agriculture 85
- Vision Goal 6: Sustainable water management 90
- Vision Goal 7: Renewable energy 93
- Vision Goal 8: Biodiversity 97
- Vision Goal 9: Climate neutrality 100
7. The Economy 104
- Vision Goal 10: Circular economy 115
- Vision Goal 11: The economy of love 118
- Vision Goal 12: Ethical banking and finance 122
- Vision Goal 13: Sustainable lifestyle 125
8. Social Life 129
- Vision Goal 14: Agile organisational structures 140
- Vision Goal 15: Diversity and equal opportunities 143
- Vision Goal 16: Social transformation 146
9. Our Vision for Egypt 2057 in the Context of Current Events 150
Conclusion 157
The Sekem Future Council Members (2025) 159
Acknowledgements 161
Notes 163
Resources 166
Index 169
Author
Helmy Abouleish is the Chief Executive of Sekem, and son of founder Dr Ibrahim Abouleish. He is a member of several international organisations, including the World Economic Forum and the World Future Council, and is president of Demeter International. Helmy is a popular speaker at international events and conferences on the subject of sustainable development. He lives with his family at Sekem, north-east of Cairo, Egypt.
Christine Arlt is the managing director of the German branch of Friends of Sekem. She lives in Cologne, Germany.
Jeff Martin is a translator from the USA. He studied anthroposophy at Emerson College, England, and worked as a business analyst and consultant across Europe. Now retired, he has translated several books, including Becoming Fully Human by Rudolf Steiner. He lives in France.
