SEKEM – 34 years of working for the Sustainable Development of Egypt SEKEM Vision: “Sustainable development towards a future where every human being can unfold his or her individual potential; where mankind is living in social forms reflecting human dignity; and where all economic activity is conducted in accordance with ecological and ethical principles”. To realize this vision for Egypt, in 1977 Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish founded the SEKEM Initiative, starting on a piece of desert land in rural Sharkeya, about 60km northeast of Cairo. His then teenage son Helmy Abouleish was engaged from the beginning and took over as General Manager of SEKEMs commercial enterprises in 1984. SEKEM follows a unique approach where economical success is utilized to fund social projects and support a manifold and intensive cultural work. The economic activity and value chain of the SEKEM companies is based on organic agriculture, which is serving a healthy natural environment. On this foundation, Helmy Abouleish built the SEKEM Group of 9 successful companies which he is still leading today as Managing Director and Vice Chairman of the Board. The SEKEM companies have successfully cultivated former desert land through organic agriculture according to bio-dynamic Demeter standards, and process the harvest into high-quality and healthy organic food, organic cotton textiles and natural pharmaceuticals marketed in Egypt and internationally. Significant success was also accomplished in the social and cultural fields: SEKEM maintains its own school with kindergarten and therapeutic pedagogy, a vocational training center, a medical center that serves the surrounding area, and an academy for applied research and adult training. For its visionary approach and substantial achievements, SEKEM has received growing international recognition. In 2003, the SEKEM Initiative was honored with the ‘Right Livelihood Award’, widely known as ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, for its business model that integrates social and cultural development; founder Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish also received the “Outstanding Social Entrepreneur” award by the Schwab Foundation. SEKEM Companies – Overview 2010 1. ATOS PHARMA produces and markets phyto-pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements 2. ISIS produces a varied choice of organically grown, processed foodstuffs and also sorts, packs and sells fresh fruit and vegetables 3. NATURETEX develops and manufactures cloth and textiles made of organic cotton 4. LOTUS processes organic herbs and spices, grains and oilseeds mainly for exports 5. El-MIZAN provides organic seedlings, that are especially robust due to grafting 6. LIBRA organizes the cultivation of Sekem’s bio-dynamic herbs, cotton, fruit and vegetables through cooperating with organic farmers all over Egypt, it also manages the compost sites, keeps cattle, chicken and sheep for the production of animal products including dairy 7. SEKEM for Land Reclamation transforms new desert lands into fertile land where bio-dynamic herbs, grains, oilseeds and vegetables are grown successfully
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In recent years SEKEM grew outstandingly and became the market leader for organic foodstuffs and phyto-pharmaceuticals in Egypt. SEKEM employs about 2,000 people from mainly rural areas in Egypt and several hundred additional seasonal workers on its farms. About 200 contracted farmers between Aswan and Alexandria apply the international standards of bio-dynamic farming. On about over 5200 feddan of desert land SEKEM creates new bio-dynamical acreage and with that a base for life and new jobs in rural Egypt. The turnover of the SEKEM Group totaled to 224 million EGP. Having increased steadily, today 75 per cent of the total turnover is generated on the Egyptian market. Beside this, long term cooperation and exporting lead to reliable business relations to customers in the export markets in Europe and the USA. All the companies of the SEKEM Group are certified according to ISO 9001, ISO 22000, to EU organic regulations, international Demeter Standards and fair-trade standards (certified by the Fairtrade Labelling Organization). Furthermore the environmental management system of the Group is certified according to ISO 14001 and its industrial safety according to OHSAS 18001. SEKEM ensures gender equality and nondiscrimination at the working place resulting in the UNIFEM “Gender Equality Award 2009” for the SEKEM company ISIS. SEKEM is an active member in the United Nations Global Compact and the SEKEM Group Code of Conduct formulates explicit commitments regarding legal compliance, business ethics and anti-corruption, labor standards and human rights, as well as environmental responsibility. The code applies to all SEKEM operations and associated business partners and is subject to regular review and development. SEKEM serves as inspiration and example on responsible conduct of business which is exemplified through numerous academic case studies as well as books, media articles, television productions and other national and international coverage on the initiative and its practices. SEKEM also works to share experience and spread knowledge to scale up its development impulse for Egypt. The Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA), founded by SEKEM, gives trainings on biodynamic agricultural methods to farmers in Egypt. The Heliopolis Academy, an institution of the SEKEM Development Foundation, provides training and consulting to other companies in Egypt on responsible, ethical business and corporate social responsibility. SEKEM Development Foundation – Overview 2010 1. The SEKEM Kindergarten offers full-time day-care to 50 children from 3 to 6 years. Training of senses, handcrafts, painting, free play and fairy tales lay the foundation for healthy development. 2. SEKEM School teaches about 84 pupils in 12 classes according to the Egyptian curriculum completed by creative and technical subjects and a holistic pedagogic training of the teachers. The SEKEM school leads to the secondary school degree as well as to general university qualification. 3. At the Therapeutical Pedagogy about 30 mentally and physically handicapped children and pupils are educated according to their special needs to prepare them for an active life in their community. 4. The Chamomile Children of the Community School includes about 50 children between 10 and 14 years who were born into underprivileged families. This project is part of SEKEM’s approach to offer an alternative to child labor. Next to easy seasonal activities (e.g. picking chamomile), the children attend school,
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receive medical assistance, food, clothing and remuneration with the goal of catching up their primary school degree. SEKEM Vocational Training offers about 250 teenagers the possibility to accomplish vocational training in metal working, carpentry, textile processing, electrical engineering, or computer maintenance. The MAHAD offers continuing education for all SEKEM employees: specific and general courses, alphabetization courses as well as arts and crafts. SEKEM Medical Center offers medical services at affordable prices to more than 30,000 people living in surrounding villages, and also provides health- and hygiene-related education as well as mother & child-programs. The HELIOPOLIS Academy for sustainable development conducts applied research in the fields of sustainable agriculture, medicine, phyto-pharmacy, renewable energies, holistic culture, social science and arts. It also offers training, consultancy and other capacity building programs in the fields of innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. The HELIOPOLIS University for Sustainable Development is under establishment. It will provide teaching and research activities serving the goal of a better future for Egypt, in the fields of engineering, economics, organic agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, arts and pedagogy.
Contact: Bijan Kafi Public Relations - Europe Office SEKEM Group & SEKEM Development Foundation Gotzkowskystr. 15 10555 Berlin, Germany mobile +49 (151) 15773101 | land +49 (30) 22410288 fax +49 (321) 21192029 bijan.kafi@sekem.info | www.sekem.com Managing director: Helmy Abouleish * Subscribe to SEKEM Insight, SEKEM's monthly journal on society, culture, and economy in Egypt * Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
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