Nr. 135 - December 2013 Insight SEKEM‘s Journal for Culture, Economy, Society and Ecology in Egypt

Heliopolis Uni SEKEM Austria Music Supporting Female Group Celebrates Music and Community Editorial Role Models 10-year Anniversary Building

Dear Readers, Heliopolis Supports to strengthen the role of women Young Female Role Models in their private and professional lives in Egypt is not an easy task The Austrian SEKEM friends have endowed the Heliopolis even for an initiative the size of University with two „Austria Scholarships“ to support SEKEM‘s SEKEM. Legally speaking, in the educational work for the disadvantaged in Egypt. Egyptian men and women are by and large equals. The reality can, of course, be quite different.

The reasons are many and include cultural as well as socio-demo- graphic and purely practical ones. With regard to private businesses such as those of the SEKEM Group, many problems remain with rather profane matters of implementa- tion and a continuous adaptation of business processes and work- flows that must fit the needs of individuals and large institutions alike. A year ago, the SEKEM com- panies with the support of the United Nations began a gender- sensitive analysis of the value chain at the Naturetex plant. In addition, SEKEM also participates in related programmes of the UN At Heliopolis University and Egyptian and foreign students and co-workers collaborate at three faculties dedicated to sustainable development issues. and has signed their declarations.

Now, the Heliopolis University, he SEKEM Initiative has so far situation remaining fragile throughout at which female and male stu- remained largely unaffected by the all of Egypt. Apparently, the need for dents have always been equals, T revolutionary upheavals in the coun- specialised, well-founded high has launched a special support try. This includes not only the SEKEM education focusing on the practical programme for disadvantaged companies. The cultural and educa- requirements of present-day develop- women. The current issue reveals tional institutions have also been ment needs is substantial. Therefore, more. able to continue their educational and Heliopolis University was fortunate social work almost unhindered. Your Team of Editors to record a new enrolment high of 231 students for the upcoming academic Thus, progress at the Heliopolis year. The total number of students Find SEKEM also on the Internet at: University has been very posi- is now 363 in all faculties currently tive despite the social and political offered.

SEKEM Insight | December 2013 | Page 1 Economy

SEKEM’s Austrian support associ- and has since begun studying at the SEKEM Friends Austria ation – “SEKEM Austria” – have and Faculty of Economics and Sustainable to Celebrate 10 Years continue to support this development Development. In light of her achieve- in many ways. This year, the group ments and social situation, Mona will of Work in 2014 in addition to the “Elizabeth Gergely receive the full scholarship for 2013. Scholarship” it is already providing to It covers tuition fees, travel and meal EKEM’s Austrian support organ- students of the Heliopolis University costs, and teaching materials. S isation – “SEKEM Austria” – was has for the first time been able to offer founded on 23 June 2004. Therefore, The partial scholarship goes to Esraa two “Austria Scholarships” to another its organisers have agreed to not only Tarek Elagrab. Esraa also attended the two students at the same institution. focus on continuing their work of pro- SEKEM and the SEKEM With the total amount of 7.000 Euros, a moting SEKEM’s work in ideal and School and has now, after a one-year full scholarship and a half scholarship material respects, but also to go pub- internship in the USA, taken up her will be awarded for the academic year lic with a series of events aimed at business studies at the Heliopolis 2013/14. promoting the work of SEKEM Austria University. and its importance to bringing devel- opment to the poorest parts of Egypt. Full and Partial Scholarships While more events are still on the Available From 2013 drawing board, the Board of Directors of SEKEM Austria would already like to The full scholarship was awarded announce the following dates: to a graduate of the SEKEM School named Mona Mohamed Abdallah 1. On 28 February 2014 the associa- Mohamed. Mona was born in the small tion‘s annual general meeting will village of Gelfina, one of the few set- be held. It will take place at the tlements just outside of the original Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory SEKEM farm. She grew up in a poor of Styria and be connected to a Egyptian family with four siblings. Her concert by the Egyptian harpist father has been a co-worker at SEKEM Neam Tarek. The artist’s musi- for over 25 years. At first he worked as cal education is being supported a labourer in agriculture; today has is financially by SEKEM Austria. employed as an experienced foreman. Esraa Tarek Elagrab 2. On 8 April 2014 SEKEM Austria together with the Institute of The scholarships were awarded to International Law of the Karl- young women because both have the Franzens-University Graz will potential for becoming role models in co-host a lecture by Dr. Bruno their social and communal environ- Sandkühler on “Egypt Awakens ments. By supporting their advance- – Considerations on Current ment, SEKEM can demonstrate how and Historical Developments in women can have a place equal to men Egypt”. in a modern Egyptian society that is 3. As part of a major international not confined to the family but may occupied Montessori confer- also include academic study and pro- ence in Lower Austria, SEKEM fessional careers thus contributing to Austria will host a seminar on society’s overall prosperity. the topic “From the ‘Chamomile Children’ to a University for Mona Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed SEKEM Austria would like to thank all friends for their support so far and Sustainable Development – asks for further donations to be able to SEKEM’s Educational Paradigm Mona and her siblings have all vis- continue to provide the scholarships in as an Intercultural Way of Peace” ited SEKEM’s kindergarten and school. the future. on 25 April 2014. Mona was successful not only in school SEKEM Austria , Bijan Kafi 4. On 21 May 2014, SEKEM Austria but also steadily developed her artis- Contact and Donations: will co-host pro bono concert tic talent by studying the violin. She http://SEKEMoesterreich.at. with the University of Arts Graz. has been an active participant in musi- Dr. will also cal performances at SEKEM. Based on You can visit SEKEM yourself: participate. her performance in school, she was www.SEKEM-reisen.de accepted to the Heliopolis University www.aventerra.de SEKEM Austria

SEKEM Insight | December 2013 | Page 2 Impressions

Impressions from SEKEM

The SEKEM Initiative and its co-workers would like to thank all the readers of SEKEM Insight and the supporters of their work throughout the year 2013. We wish you a peaceful Christmas time, a contemplative turn of the year, as well as peace and happiness in 2014! The SEKEM Community

SEKEM Insight | December 2013 | Page 3 News in Brief

Cross-Cultural Musical Workshop Aims Connecting the Hands and the Brain to Train Community Building Skills

he Danish-German musician Hans elements ensued among partici- Thomas Hemelaar, an experienced T Erik Deckert has visited SEKEM pants of the workshop. It became teacher from Holland, who has already quite a few times already, most clear, that the different voices could traveled the world a lot and has com- recently in the company of his cello be interpreted as representing social mitted himself to the development of orchestra. Here at the initiative, he processes and the interaction of indi- Waldorf education in many places of has succeeded many times in getting viduals adhering to a greater musi- the world, returned to SEKEM this year co-workers excited for musical expres- cal scheme: emergence - relapse, to work with people in the initiative. sion in the production facilities as well forte - piano, question - answer, a He had already visited the initiative as on stage and in many other places. dialog, a dispute, dissonance ver- several times in the past. sus consonance, harmony versus dis- This time his focus lay on giving par- The last time he decided to come harmony, polyphony in everything in ticipants an insight into his pedagog- to Egypt he arrived to work with 5 coexistence. Egyptian musicians on a classical quin- ical research. In the framework of a tet by Schubert (“Trout Quintet“) and Deckert’s practical explanations workshop he discussed illustrations to explain the work of the small group transformed the listening process of of sculptures typical to the ages of during the concerts the 6 musicians the participants into an entirely differ- human evolution. He aimed to high- gave. At the same time, Deckert organ- ent, active experience. It succeeded light the pedagogical importance of ized a workshop on „Understanding in providing them with a much more understanding the evolution of human musical processes as a basis of and nuanced understanding of how music consciousness in light of their arts. “works”. „The musical process rep- preparation for community building”. In addition, Hemelaar also worked resents the everlasting continuity of with students and staff of the Musical processes can easily sym- a bridge between the past and the Heliopolis University through a work- bolise human interaction. Music can future, overcoming the temporal, the shop on better understanding the link act as a force for peace in a time of perception of the eternal moment, among manual labour and comprehen- conflict. How do we discover what is the experience of the panorama of the sive thought. Such courses shall be exactly is going on “in the music”? simultaneity of beginning and end.”, made an integral part of the future cur- Through practicing “structural lis- Deckert adds on his own understand- riculum . tening”, by paying close attention to ing of music and the process of its musical contexts. “Musical aware- perception. At the SEKEM School, Hemalaar has ness can be strengthened by the already developed such a Through the workshop, the many experiential appropriation of musi- with teachers 10 years ago. He also people participating in it and expe- cal phenomena. Intellectual activity visited the school this time to check up riencing its music have been deeply is an intermediate stage in this pro- on and revise the material. cess. Musical awareness is knowledge touched – school children and univer- we may employ to identify the unique sity students, faculty, staff and artists Yvonne Floride laws of music”, says Deckert. The ses- included. In an engaging way, eve- sions with Deckert at SEKEM aimed to ryone present was involved into the provide the proper setting to stimulate musical production and perception an experience of exactly this kind of process by Deckert, for instance when the pedal point was sung or a rhythm musical reflection. Masthead: was clapped. This way, the music The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to thank all contributors to this issue. Making use of the quintet by could also be experienced by entirely Editor: Schubert that is also called the „Trout untrained ears. The experience of the Bijan Kafi, Christina Anlauf

Quintet” and that was rehearsed in musicians in sync with that of the audi- Contact: SEKEM-Insight the framework of a cooperation of ence transformed even the former’s c/o SEKEM Holding P.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, SEKEM musicians and professional own style of play, some musicians Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt musicians from Cairo, Deckert care- later remarked – a prototypical exam- [email protected] fully explained the subtle musical pro- ple for social “co-experience”. Pictures: cesses that form part of it. Individual 1-4: SEKEM. Martina Dinkel voices and other musical elements No republication without written consent by the publisher. were discussed, rhythms became clear and a lively debate on the func- More information: tion and effect of certain of these ! https://hedmusic.net

SEKEM Insight | December 2013 | Page 4