SEKEMs Journal for Economics, Culture and Society in SEKEM Insight Nr. 65 November 2007

Dear Reader, Social Economy Culture New SEKEM film More efficiency Artists meet the development of SEKEM experi- published on DVD at Naturetex again in SEKEM enced a significant boost in 2003. The recognition by the Right Live- lihood Foundation resulting in the reception of the „“ - better known as the Alter- New SEKEM Film to be Published on DVD native Nobel Prize - briefly pushed Audiovisual production by young filmmaker the Egyptian initiative into the lime- light and the focus of the attention contributes to SEKEM‘s 30-year festivities of the global development commu- nity. Sensitive pictures show the various Through the prize, many global economic, cultural and social insti- organisations became first aware tutions inaugurated by the initia- of SEKEM and its reach. In the tive over the past 30 years coming years, even some of them and with Dr. Ibrahim awarded prizes to SEKEM thus Abouleish and Helmy contributing again to the interest Abouleish, central SEKEM received and making its figures of its devel- institutions better known to large opment are person- parts of the world. ally looking back on their work. Pictures Since 2003, many of SEKEM’s rep- „directly mirror- resentatives have grown used to ing life“ (Martina speaking in front of ever greater Dinkel, director of audiences when promoting the the Ensemble) need for greater human develop- let the viewer experience an ment in Egypt. Many of those who entirely different culture in a new have listen for the first time to a way. They aim to portray SEKEM speech by Dr. as the realisation of a history full on the occasion of one of these of challenges, successes and also events later become close friends Right on time for this year‘s 30years setbacks. „By all means, SEKEM of SEKEM or even its employees. anniversary festivities, a new audi- certainly is a wonder“, says Helmy Abouleish. Following 2003 the media, too, ovisual work will be published on became more aware of SEKEM‘s the SEKEM initiative. While most The young filmmaker, deeply moved work. They produced films, productions had so far been dis- by a visit to the initiative months reports, news pieces or radio fea- tributed only live through public or ago, was dedicated return and to tures on the its work. These days, private broadcasting channels, the portray the work of Dr. Ibrahim another audiovisual production will new documentary will be available Abouleish in audiovisual form as a be published. The new 50-minute to buy for everyone on DVD. personal project. He has created a documentary created by a young In his film that was initially pro- work that is supposed to appeal to German film maker will also be duced as an annual work project the viewer that is not acquainted published on DVD and is featured during the producer‘s school years with the work of the initiative: „It in this issue of SEKEM Insight. and is only now being commercially is a film that intends to encourage people to realize their own ideals. Your Editorial Team released, the filmmaker Jonathan N. Zembol offers everyone a deep SEKEM is a development model and all-encompassing look into for a different kind of society the multifaceted world of SEKEM. SEKEM built on human values and Continued on page 2

Page 1 Issue November 2007 intending a wholesome development of More Efficiency at the mankind, community and earth“, says Zembol. „What makes the film special is Sewing Machine the attempt to capture the mental back- ground of SEKEM in word and image.“ Karl Franz Paul Rademacher, former pro- fessor at the advanced school of fash- The preliminary version of the film had ion Sigmaringen and the inventor of the already been produced almost a year „Sigmaringen processing techniques“ visited SEKEM in November for sev- eral weeks. He aimed to instruct the „It is a very nice and sewers of the initiative‘s Naturetex firm beautiful film in that it for clothing in its advanced methods for encompasses the SEKEM improving work conditions, raising the efficiency and making the working envi- Prof. Rademacher during training of Naturetex‘ sewers idea in all its facets.“ ronment more healthy. In this case „efficient work“ indeed pri- Optimized handling of machine and gar- ago in Austria and Switzerland and met marily means „healthier work“. The new ments can, for instance, be achieved with positive reactions from the audi- work conditions shall assist workers first through elimination of superfluous work- ences. Dr. Hansueli Albonico, long-stand- and foremost in working more ergonom- ing steps. This way, the time needed to ing friend of and contributor to SEKEM‘s ically. Several small-scale adjustments handle the individual piece of the work success, congratulated the young artist and instructions shall moreover help can be shortened. This may sometimes on its script, camera and commentary them to understand how they can per- also include measuring the fastening of a work. form their work more easily and, thus, button with the stop watch. Zembol takes on an enthusiastic stand- even faster at improved quality. This Prof. Rademacher also assisted in arrang- point concerning the possibilities he can often be achieved with only minor ing individual work environments anew sees to not only inform about but truly changes concerning, for instance, the to improve the way space and time was engage a widely scattered audience way garments and machines are han- used in the factories. This, for instance, for the causes of SEKEM: „The world is dled. included the optimization of workflows our mirror and vice versa. We have to Hence, healthier work also means more inside the rooms. In the future the train- change ourselves to change the world. economic work. More quality in the ing programme will be continued by Mr. Everyone can everyday anew make the individual working step also leads to Ahmed Suweilam, general trainer of decision if he wants to be part of the increased overall product quality. Naturetex. global problems or part of their solution. Christina Boecker Mankind again has to learn to do what truly counts for it and not what brings the most money and power. To allow for SEKEM Celebrates 30th Birthday such change to happen, we all have to lay the groundwork.“ with Public Festivities Additional to the 50minute film that is available in German and English the DVD The SEKEM initiative has begun to cel- tions, thus commenced its series of jubi- also includes extensive bonus material in ebrate its 30th Anniversary festivities lee events with a concert benefitting of German only. with a classical concert on 26 November the participation of the German Oberon The DVD „SEKEM – Die erwachte Wüste. and continued the celebrations with Piano Trio. SEKEM Insight will report Eine Vision wird Wirklichkeit“ can be a public event at the end of the same in greater detail on the events in the ordered at: week. Friends, employees and the gen- coming issues. eral public were invited to attend the Bijan Kafi edition SOPHIA – Christine Zembol concert that was held at the SEKEM Verlag, Lüneburgerstr. 36, D - 21403 Academy. Wendisch Evern, E-Mail: edition- [email protected], Fax: +49 (0)4131 / The Egyptian organisation that 22 43 43 3, Tel: +49 (0)4131 / 22 43 43 2 has grown at an exponential rate Duration: ca. 50 Min. (German/English) throughout the past thirty years + ca. 84 Min. Bonus material (German), with the help of friends from 22,00 Euro (D) incl. national postage and all over the world and partic- packing. ularly the practical and finan- cial assistance of its several Jonathan N. Zembol, Bijan Kafi European support associa-

Page 2 Issue November 2007 GLS Bank and Meeting of Artists Impressions from SEKEM SEKEM Present at SEKEM New SEKEM Fonds The GLS bank and long-standing The two German painters Marianne financial supporter of SEKEM hails its Wachberger and Gerlinde Wendland new product as a “unique and attrac- have again been guests on the SEKEM tive financial opportunity”. The insti- farm at an artists meeting from 17 tute that since the beginning of the October until 7 November. Their new year is also holding shares in the atelier had been prepared by Yvonne Egyptian initiative presented the Floride, co-worker at SEKEM, on the “SEKEM Fonds” to the public at a cel- upper floors of the house that regularly houses the handicraft workshops. ebration in the Liederhalle Stuttgart SEKEM‘s fields are always green - even in winter on 19 November. More than 300 After ten days of intense work the New seedlings have just been brought people, friends of SEKEM and part- employees of SEKEM together with out on SEKEM’s fields these last days ners of the bank had answered the friends and the artists celebrated the as peasants can cultivate and seed two invitation and also took the chance opening of the atelier with a small exhi- times per year in Egypt: once over winter to experience a speech of Dr. Ibrahim bition. Over the course of the three allowing for a harvest in spring and Abouleish. weeks, the artists create over 60 paint- another time over the summer permit- ings in varying formats. Eventually, all The fonds is supposed to contrib- ting to bring in the fruits and vegetables paintings were donated to the SEKEM ute with 5 mio. Euro to the further of the field in the next autumn. These initiative at a conclusive public event on investments of the SEKEM Initiative. days, cereals have been seeded again, 3 November. It is particularly planned to acquire particularly wheat and rye or clover as new farms on the Sinai peninsula Some of the pictures were created in a feeder plant. Usually, chamomile , cal- and in the South of Egypt to ensure cooperation with the Eurythmy art- endula, mullen, potatoes or peas are the permanent long-term availability ists, musicians and other co-workers planted as seedlings in winter as shown of demeter-quality, high-grade prod- at SEKEM allowing for an event that on our picture. While the plants are ucts. Moreover, it is supposed to demonstrated the multi-faceted artis- still fragile, they have to be protected allow for the establishment of new tic influences at work at the Egyptian carefully from the heat of the sun that processing facilities in the firms and organisation and their diversity. remains strong even in November with the overall expansion of processing Gerlinde Wendland temperatures sometimes still rising capacities. above 32° centigrade. Everyone has the chance to benefit from the SEKEM Fonds that is man- aged by the newly founded GLS Sekem Fonds GbR starting at a finan- cial contribution of 5,000,- Euro. He or she will have the chance to profit from a double dividend of approx- imately 6.2% p.a. and all investors can rest assured that their capital will contribute to a development of SEKEM that is both ecologically Masthead: sound, healthy and financially ben- eficial for the local Egyptian popula- Publisher: SEKEM, Egypt tion. It will, for instance, allow for the The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to thank all cultivation of medicinal plants, the contributors who helped in creating this edtion. production of natural garments and Editors: the fabrication of organic foodstuffs Christina Boecker to provide even more Egyptians with Bijan Kafi the means to lead healthier lives. SEKEM-Insight c/o SEKEM Holding More information can be obtained P.O.Box 2834 from the internet at the address: El Horreya, Heliopolis Cairo, Egypt www.gls.de/sekem/ or by telephone at Painting of the German artist Gerlinde Wendtland [email protected] +49-(0)234 5797333 decorate many walls in SEKEM’s social institutions Christina Boecker

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