Sekem

Sekem ( according to an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph life force from the sun) is an Egyptian cultural initiative and social enterprise that was founded in 1977 by Ibrahim Abouleish. The initiative opened up about 47 km north-east of Cairo desert for biodynamic agriculture. Sekem produces various organic food, health products and textiles from organic farming. As a social enterprise funded the initiative with a portion of its revenues, the activities of " Sekem Development Foundation " (SDF ). Sekem is based in educational, social and economic terms to the basic principles of Waldorf education and anthroposophy.

The commercial part of the Sekem initiative consists of six organized as a holding company. Also a member of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association ( EBDA ) to Sekem. Sekem has introduced bio-dynamic farming as a pioneer in Egypt and supports its dissemination to the present day by the EBDA and the Centre for Organic Agriculture in Egypt ( COAE ). In addition to the bio-dynamic farming, the focus is on compliance with fair trade and social and cultural well-being of nearly 2000 employees.

Initially limited the Fairtrade principle which is used in most production areas, on trade with developed countries, meanwhile Sekem tries to establish the system in Egypt.

The GLS Bank and Triodos Bank rose in February 2007, with almost 20 percent in the Sekem group.

Sekem assumes that economic profit should support social development directly. The SDF therefore engaged with a portion of the profits of the Group profit institutions and leading social and cultural projects in partnership with local and international organizations. These facilities include a kindergarten special education department, a school, a vocational training center, a facility for adult education, hospital and other facilities such as an institute for applied research. An applied as a non-profit organization university is to offer first study courses from the end of 2012 and has been active as a research center.

In 2003, Ibrahim Abouleish was awarded for the Sekem initiative with the Right Livelihood Award.

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