Nr. 117 - June 2012 Insight SEKEM‘s Journal for Culture, Economy, Society and Ecology in Egypt

Change in Egypt Concert for SEKEM Interview With Supporters Organise Ethical Globally Editorial Helmy Abouleish Pro-Bono Concert More Successful

Dear Readers, Change in Egypt: as Helmy Abouleish tells in this An Interview with Helmy Abouleish month’s interview on the Situa- At the BioFach 2012 in Nuremberg the editors of „Mehr.Wert“, the tion in Egypt, he perceives the Newsletter by Triodos , spoke to Helmy Abouleish country to be at a crossroads. The to talk about the situation of Egypt and SEKEM today. country is taking bold steps into an uncertain but promising future. One question is: What has to be done to make human and mate- rial development flourish best in Egypt?

Helmy has already answered this question for himself. Just recently, he was again elected to the board of the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce. He had been a part of the committee of the major eco- nomic association from 2010 to 2012. Shortly before that, he had received the “Business for Peace Award” on behalf of his father at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway. And at the end of May, the major German weekly „Business Week“ featured SEKEM as one „50 Great Ideas for a Better World“. Helmy Abouleish uses the largest organic fair in Europe to meet business partners and friends. These events illustrate how SEKEM also regularly presents its newest products on the demeter association’s group booth. important it is to Helmy and all of SEKEM’s co-workers to con- bout one year ago, Egyptians „Mehr.Wert“ and appears here in the tinue on the path of sustainability rewrote their history - and future reprint. Triodos Bank has been sup- they have taken 35 years ago. For A - in Tahrir Square. At BioFach 2012, the porting and investing in SEKEM since Helmy, the Egyptian private sector leading international trade fair for the 2007. is an important travelling compan- organic food industry, the editors of ion on this journey. Helmy, how widespread is the holistic „Mehr.Wert“, the newsletter of the sus- approach according to which SEKEM tainable German Triodos Bank, met and Triodos operate, in Egypt? Your Team of Editors with Helmy Abouleish from SEKEM to talk about recent developments at The holistic approach that takes the initiative and in the country since into account the economic and the Find SEKEM also on the Internet at: the revolution. The article was first ecological and social aspects is - published in the March/April issue of despite the long-standing work of

SEKEM Insight | June 2012 | Page 1 Economy

SEKEM - so far not widely practiced Has everyday business at SEKEM the rising influence of the Muslim in Egypt. There is a large network changed with the political and social Brotherhood and the repression of lib- of farmers, customers and part- situation? eral parts of society. How justified is ners working in association with us. this concern and what position should Because of these changes we now However, there have not yet been Europe take towards Egypt now? have to consider all possible kinds any other initiatives that take up our of bottlenecks we never had to think In a democratic election, the Muslim threefold approach independent of about before and new threats have Brotherhood were the largest party us and develop it further - neither in arisen, such as the security situa- and the Salafists came in second. Egypt nor anywhere else in the Arab tion in the rural part of Egypt where That is a reality I can myself con- world. This is also one of the major SEKEM is located. In the past, Egypt firm. It is now time to respect the challenges for SEKEM and our part- was a very safe country. Now we decision Egyptians have made to ners such as the Triodos Bank: How have to consider potential risks give everyone a chance to actually can we spread our ideas so that they for people going out late at night. practice democracy. If the Muslim are taken up and developed inde- We also have to care for the sur- Brotherhood meet the promises pendently of us. veillance of our delivery trucks, for they made before the election, they example. However, the security sit- will continue to lead the country in uation today has already signifi- a liberal and open-minded fashion, cantly improved since 2011. Last SEKEM‘s Business Model even if more Islamic points of view year, retailers frequently changed make it into everyday politics. I sin- Since 1977 SEKEM has been carrying out their working hours and opening cerely hope that the European coun- bio-dynamic agriculture in Egypt and is times and many supermarkets were committed to the idea of sustainability. tries will continue to maintain close In concrete terms this means that looted. Thus we temporarily lost cultural, social, political, and eco- cultural, social and environmental some customers. The ability to pay nomic ties with Egypt and assist development is promoted as an for products also took a significant it in its journey towards progress integrated whole to establish a new hit - many people could not or would even more. Only if we genuinely economic paradigm. For this business not pay more for higher quality prod- try to understand the other and to model, Dr. received ucts. Egypt’s economy shrank by build bridges will the two shores of the Right Livelihood Award in 2003. several percent and that, of course, the Mediterranean have a chance at Since 2007, the Triodos Bank has also had a big influence on us as a building synergies that may result in become a shareholder of SEKEM with a business providing products essen- seat on the board of the company. In the sustainable long-term development same year the Triodos Bank released a tial for daily life, such as food. for both. SEKEM Bond to private investors in the For what kind of changes are you now We are here at the BioFach, the lead- . hoping after the success of the revolu- ing and the largest trade fair for the tion in Egypt? organic sector in Europe. Why is this Firstly, we need to consider that it event so important for SEKEM? Were there times during the Egyptian will take time for Egypt to adapt to This year, a big issue for us is the revolution, in which the SEKEM initia- the radical changes, at least two question of how to better commu- tive and the farm were threatened? years. On the other hand, if we do nicate in Europe - together with our well - I sincerely hope and expect We can call us very fortunate that partner Alnatura - the value added that we will - the people of Egypt our employees have, from the first of the biodynamic cotton that we will have the opportunity to once day of the revolution (25 January cultivate in Egypt and the products again consider this country “theirs” 2011) to this day - personally and we produce out of it. These values in the full sense of the word. Egypt through their families in the villages include our social work and also will again be the country of its own around us supported and protected what I would call the „environmen- people. The Egyptians will be more SEKEM and the SEKEM companies. tal quality“. Because we use the bio- motivated to influence the way During the days when civil security dynamic cultivation method, less they are governed, with more love was at risk in Egypt, our employ- water is needed, less CO2 emis- and a greater sense of responsibil- ees even monitored the SEKEM sions are released into the air, and ity. Then, Egypt may flourish again. farm and its facilities for 24 hours a our soils do not degenerate. This I am optimistic that the situation will day. We only needed to halt produc- approach can be a part of the solu- substantially improve compared to tion one single day. Our employees tion to fighting climate change and the status quo of the pre-revolution have proven that SEKEM is an inte- water scarcity in Africa. days. gral part of their lives and that they are ready to support it with all their According to German media reports, More information: hearts. many in the global West worry about ! http://newsletter.triodos.de/

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Ethical Banks More Successful Across the Globe Placing Interests of Future A new study reveals that values-based financial institutes are operating more successful than conventional institutions lending Generations on Today’s more confidence to the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Environmental Agenda

percent compared to an average of 80 he unrestrained use of natural percent for the latter. The sustainable T resources and progressive envi- banks have an average core capital ronmental degradation exacerbate ratio of 14 percent compared with less the gap between rich and poor and than 10 percent at the former. threaten the survival of future gener- ations. Especially today’s children suf- In Vancouver the impact of the Global fer the consequences of misguided Alliance on other financial institutions environmental and climate policy and in the industry was also apparent in will be confronted with the conse- the number of banks aspiring to join quences of myopic political action as Banking for values“ - that is, bank- the alliance. The Canadian Assiniboine adults. „Political and economic deci- ing based on fundamental ethi- Credit Union was just recently incor- „ sion makers still think in short-term cal convictions, is recording strong porated into the GABV and up to ten cycles of elections or business profit. growth globally. This became clear other banks have expressed their However, we need long-term strate- at the recent meeting of the Global interest to join the alliance. The mem- gies that safeguard the future pros- Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)​​ bership requirements include the ful- pects of today’s children”, said Danuta in Vancouver, Canada. In the shape of filment of six admission criteria which Sacher, director of non-profit charita- the GABV, the 15 world’s leading sus- include the integration of social and ble organisation Terre des Hommes, tainable financial institutes formed environmental indicators into the core on behalf of the initiative. „We demand a permanent working group. The business model, a practice of bank- the establishment of ombudsmen for German GLS Bank based in Bochum ing oriented towards a strengthening future generations that provide an was the first social-ecological univer- of the “real economies”, as well as a adequate assurance that long-term sal bank in the world and one of the general orientation towards long-term thinking is made an integral part of the founding members of the alliance. For customer needs. overall policy-making process at vari- several years the bank has also been ous levels in this world’s governmen- an investor in the various businesses The GABV plans to launch a bank- tal systems [...]”. of the SEKEM Initiative. wide exchange program for employees later this year. Human resource man- To advocate for this goal, Terre des Measured by their financial ratios, agers at the institutions would like Hommes and the World Future Council the world’s value-oriented banks to cooperate more closely together, have recently launched an online peti- currently outstrip even the larg- too, and to develop an international tion. Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish has signed est conventional banks, according seminar programme. The banks also the petition for SEKEM. Signatures to a recently published study. The develop a common financial tool are collected at www.righttothefu- research, that was now presented to to facilitate the continuation of the ture.org to pressure government lead- the public in Vancouver, compares the already successful institutional capi- ers at the UN Summit on Sustainable financial performance of the members tal increase. Development in Rio de Janeiro in June of the Global Alliance with those of the The meeting in Canada was hosted into making clear and binding commit- 29 world‘s largest conventional (and by the Vancouver-based Vancity Credit ments towards the creation of ombud- “systemically indispensable”) banks Union. Vancity is the largest English- spersons for future generations at the over the course of 4 years from 2007- speaking credit union in Canada. It international, regional and national 2010. The study finds that sustainable offers its members innovative and eth- levels. The collected signatures will be banks invested an average of 70 per- ically sound financial services. handed over to heads of state and gov- cent of their total assets in the form ernment delegations before the event. of loans, whereas the conventional Source: GLS Bank Source: RightToTheFuture.org banks only invested 38 percent. Even in credit volume growth conventional You can visit SEKEM yourself: institutions they lagged behind GABV www.SEKEM-reisen.de More information: members with an increase of only 20 www.aventerra.de ! http://www.righttothefuture.org

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German Pro-Bono Concert for SEKEM Attracts Enthusiastic Visitors On 24 March 2012 the German village of Oberostendorf experienced a pro-bono concert organised by its inhabitants for the benefit of SEKEM. It drew plenty of enthusiastic visitors.

project. They had learned of Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish and the manifold social initiatives of SEKEM for the first time through Mr. and Mrs. Schütz. Since November 2008 both of them have been endeavouring to instruct Egyptian trainers and teachers from the special education facility at SEKEM and the electrical training course of the Vocational Training Center in the art of problem-oriented and interac- tive training. Many times during their work they have had the chance to experience the warmth, gratitude and perseverance of the children, teachers and trainers. Each year the concert at Oberostendorf aims to support a ded- icated social project. „This year the board of the town’s music club told us: ‚This year’s concert at the church will be held to honour your work for Dieter Schütz receives a donation for SEKEM from the hands of the musicians of Oberostendorf’s pro-bono concert. SEKEM in Egypt. We think that if some- one from us is so committed to volun- tary work, we need to support that.‘“ pro-bono concert organised by audience consists of the local popula- A the local citizens’ music club of tion and comes to enjoy predominantly Through the diverse support of many Oberostendorf (in Bavarian Swabia, modern church music”, tells Dieter individuals and organisations such as Germany) last March successfully tried Schütz. those of Ober­osten­dorf SEKEM is pres- to support the volunteer work of Dieter ently able to maintain a kindergarten Right before the concert, the Schütz, one of its own descendants, as well as help 28 children in a spe- SEKEM Initiative had been presented through new means. Oberostendorf‘s cial education facility, 360 students in by Hamed Abdel Samad, a German- highly motivated musicians had been 12 classes at the SEKEM School, 280 Egyptian journalist. In his book „War or familiarized with SEKEM through a lec- apprentices at the Vocational Training Peace“ he had held previously written: ture recently given by Dieter Schütz Center, and provide 70 children of local “We Europeans must help the people of (SEKEM Insight reported in March Bedouin tribes with school educa- Egypt to build civil society structures 2012). Mr. Schütz and his wife have tion and income. Such broad commit- and we must then train apprentices to been voluntarily supporting SEKEM for ment is dependent on the enthusiasm build an Egyptian middle class.” This several years and had carried the word and voluntary in-kind contributions of is the reason why, today, the giving of home. The town’s musicians intended many private supporters. alms is not a solution. Instead, lasting to express their solidarity with them partnership projects that involve both SEKEM and its staff wish to sin- and with the SEKEM initiative. “Here sides of the Mediterranean in their cerely thank the “Musikverein Ober­ in Bavaria, most villages have their implementation and let both reap a ostendorf” as well as Dieter Schütz own music clubs a chapels. The one at benefit well into the future are needed. and his wife for their commitment and Oberostendorf, the place I was born, financial support! organises an annual pro-bono con- The community of Oberostendorf cert in the local Baroque church. The considers SEKEM to be such a Bijan Kafi

SEKEM Insight | June 2012 | Page 4 Impressions

Impressions from SEKEM

n 7 May 2012 Helmy Abouleish (pictured far right) on behalf of his father and SEKEM received the “Business for Peace Award” in Oslo, Norway. The prestigious award for entrepreneurship, O which is given each year to a number of internationally renowned entrepreneurs who have distin- guished themselves in peace building, was presented to Helmy at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital. The award is presented by the “Business for Peace Foundation” in cooperation with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The evening was also captured on video. Helmy Abouleish’s segment at the award ceremony can be watched online at http://vimeo.com/41728437.

SEKEM Insight | June 2012 | Page 5 News in Brief

Oikocredit Invests in Organic Demeter Farm Receives Growing Demand for Well- Agriculture in Egypt Prestigious „Food Oscars“ Trained Waldorf Teachers

Recently Dutch microfinance lender The Loch Arthur Camphill com- Around 600 new Waldorf teachers Oikocredit made its first investment munity near Dumfries, Scotland has are needed each year just at German in Egypt recently, with a US$ 7 million recently won the „Best Food Producer Waldorf schools, and the demand is convertible loan to SEKEM. 2011“ Award. The prestigious food and increasing. 300 graduates are leaving agriculture prize was given to Loch Waldorf teacher training courses and After a very difficult year following Arthur for one of its cheeses and is universities each year but they cannot the Egyptian revolution in 2011 con- awarded regularly by the British BBC. satisfy the demand. However, most ditions are now stabilizing again in Loch Arthur called the price „the Oscar establishments do not have capacity Egypt, and Oikocredit‘s investment of the food world“ in Britain. The radio to increase student places. will support SEKEM’s growth plans program on which the recognition was with revenues projected to grow in announced described the product as The Alliance of Free Waldorf Schools, 2012 to $48 million. Funds will be „a great cheese, absolutely perfect.“ therefore, has now launched the used to implement delayed capital „WalfiiSch“ - (Waldorf teachers find expenditure in areas such as tea-pack- Barry Graham founded the Loch their school) campaign to help aspir- ing machines, a gelatin capsule pro- Arthur dairy in 1986 and then gradu- ing teachers discover the „best job duction line for the pharmaceutical ally added a farm shop and other areas in the world“. The campaign aims to plant, and additional land reclamation of food production to its premises. He inform newcomers to the field through investments. is very excited about the price - and the Internet, and, among other chan- not only for himself. Next to a success- nels, through road shows and adver- ful bio-dynamic production and shop tisements. Special teacher training business, Loch Arthur also is a place institutions, too, are working to pro- of work and life for its co-workers to vide schools with qualified teachers be proud of and consider their own thus strengthening their regional rep- achievement, Graham thinks. utation. To meet the needs of teach- ers familiar with at „We view this exceptional food & SEKEM, the initiative has begun to pro- farming award in light of the work we vide its own formal training courses. have done here for 25 years. Through SEKEM’s expansion will generate the food we produce, we have created Source: Association of Waldorf additional employment of about 250 wonderful connections to a wider com- Schools in Germany jobs relative to the current employee munity, and have demonstrated what a base of 2,000 people. social enterprise that has a conscience More information: and exerts great care in its business ! http://www.bildung-fuers-leben.de In addition, each year SEKEM practice can achieve”, said Graham. donates 10% of its profits to the SEKEM Development Foundation Loch Arthur is a joint venture located (SDF) to finance community projects, in the South West of Scotland. Many of which serve educational, health and the co-workers working at Loch Arthur cultural development purposes. SDF are men and women with learning Masthead: runs a kindergarten and school for chil- and other disabilities. There are nine The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to dren with special needs, a vocational houses, all of them inhabited by more thank all contributors to this issue. training centre and a medical centre. Editor: than 70 individuals. There is also a Bijan Kafi SEKEM employees benefit from these farm, a large garden, a dairy, a bakery, Contact: facilities and services for a fee propor- a woodworking shop and a thriving SEKEM-Insight c/o SEKEM Holding tional to their salary. The local commu- farm shop. The farm and the dairy of P.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt nity from surrounding villages also has Loch Arthur are both certified to dem- [email protected] access to these services. eter standards. Pictures: Seite 1: Bijan Kafi; 3: Dieter Schütz; 5: Business for Peace Foundation. Source: Oikocredit Source: NNA No republication without written consent by the publisher. More information: More information: ! http://www.oikocredit.org ! http://www.locharthur.org.uk/

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