SEKEM Insight

SEKEMs Journal for Economy, Culture and Society in Egypt

SEKEM Insight

Nr. 67 January 2008

Dear Reader, SEKEM Insight has reported on the „13-Villages-Project“ several times. The project of the SEKEM Development Foundation that has been financed with foreign assistance is now entering its third and last year. Reason enough to offer our readers an update on the results achieved and the lessons learned before the official closure of one of SEKEMs financially most comprehensive projects.

Social

Events

Culture

Special Edition: 13-Villages-Project

Events in and about SEKEM

Annual Seminar on Islam in SEKEM

13-Villages-Project: Better Livelihoods, Less Waste, Healthier Living Conditions 13-Villages-Project Enters its Third Year

Much has been achieved during the past two years. However, since words can only paint an incomplete picture of the harsh daily reality this issue also offers a comprehensive pictorial review of most of the projects actions and the women, children and men involved in it - its primary beneficiaries, that is.

Because of this, this issue contains a selection of the most beautiful and most impressive pictures out of almost 700 days of project work.

At the same time, readers will have manifold opportunities to convince themselves personally of its successes in 2008 - both in Europe and in Egypt: SEKEM once again holds its annual Islam Seminar and several other friends and partners of the initiative are going to offer other events in several locations in Europe. Senior representatives of SEKEM will take part in some of them.

Your Editorial Team

Issue January 2008

An Egyptian mother in her house where she manufactures puppets with the help of a micro-credit

The SEKEM initiative was awarded more than half a million Euro in 2005 for a comprehensive development project to be executed in cooperation with its German support association.

The integrative concept – „13-VillagesProject“ – represents one of the biggest development efforts in the history of the initiative that could just celebrate its 30th anniversary, both in logistical and financial terms. Former SEKEM coworker and project manager of several such projects Klaus Merckens, today supporting many initiatives at the Ulmbased CIWI enterprise, had originally acquired the major share of the funds from the European Union. The project

that has been fighting against poverty and its causes in the region of Sharkeya, the area of SEKEMs mother farm, since 2005 is now entering its third and last year of work. Most funds from the overall project budget of almost 760.000,- Euro had been invested until late 2007. Many of the diverse actions have either already been or will be completed within the coming months. Most of these will be integrated into existing development actions of the SDF (SEKEM Development Foundation).

The complex challenges of development in rural Egypt can only be tackled through tightly integrated measures.

Page 1

Poverty cannot be eradicated through financial aid alone. The struggle against it has to go hand in hand with sustainable support. This includes assistance in the establishment of a working health care system, more and greater investments in education as well as help directed at individuals to allow them

„Poverty cannot be eliminated through money alone - it also takes sustainable support.“ to help themselves in the long term.

To achieve this, the SDF has already accessed European Union funds for the second time after 1997.

Persuasion Counts Most Gelfina is one of the thirteen communities in direct vicinity to the SEKEM farm and particularly heavily affected by issues of public health. With the support and guidance of the SDF project workers organise meetings with the villages’ most respected elders. This is meant to strengthen their awareness for proactive development in their community. In particular this includes topics such as the care for public health, sanitary measures and personal hygiene as well as proper care for domesticated animals and waste disposal. Local town

centres, public spaces, schools and even the village mosques are often used for these meetings.

The villages’ most influential people are thus integrated into all decision-making processes.

An important part of the project workers’ jobs is thus persuasion.

Medical doctors as well as social workers of the initiative are involved in the project. The project is supervised by Dr. Ahmed Ismael, head Girls too are studying technical subjects at SEKEM‘s Vocational Training Centre. of the SEKEM Medical The new study programmes include a course in computer maintenance. Overall Centre. Its work has 100 students shall be admitted until the end of the project. already been substantially supported the team visits the villages and distribfinancially by the German support utes printed informational brochures. association.

Many of these curricular materials The team even offers regular medical have already been enhanced with selfassistance. To do this it visits the comexplanatory descriptions directed spemunities on a monthly basis and offers cifically at illiterate women. Some of a medical check-up programme specifthe materials had been provided by the ically directed at children and mothEgyptian Ministry of Health. The proers before and after birth. Its members gramme also involved the professional also instruct on the dangerous effects education of 13 rural midwives. A medof genital mutilation, a practice almost ical doctor had produced the respec97% of girls undergo each year. They tive training materials and distributed also supervise the pregnancies of them. They focus on topics that are not almost 350 women. Their initial medself-evident in rural Egypt: the various ical check-ups could be performed forms of aid to give to women during with modern equipment and under birth, hygienic ways of performing the supervision of Dr. Salwa Amin, medical work, sterilization, early recSEKEM’s gynaecologist. Moreover, ognition of dangerous symptoms, the

The new tractor, the rural „waste removal team“ of the thirteen project communities. It regularly visits the villages and collects solid wastes for separation and recycling.

Issue January 2008

Chamomile Children attend a class. They are studying reading, writing and religion in SEKEM‘s school. The Chamomile Children concept has been integrated into the project.

Page 2

dangers of genital mutilation or how to get help in case of serious threats to a mother’s life. During 2007, the team of 13 midwives was able to take part in regular refresh courses 4 times.

Consultations are held quarterly directly in the communities. Many hundred of

„Up to 97% of girls still suffer from genital mutilation in the Egyptian countryside.“ villagers have again taken part in them in 2007. Several vehicles could be bought with the help of the European Union.

They now facilitate the daily labour of the social workers greatly. 25 of them have been trained to offer assistance on their own and on location in case of need. They currently undergo regular refresh courses and have taken part in a training programme developed specifically for them. This programme also offers training in advanced communication skills to allow the social workers to instruct villagers on hygiene, health and child care directly in the towns or in courses at SEKEM’s own adult training institute.

The work of the social workers mainly concentrates on awareness raising missions for the women in the rural communities to commit themselves to the

various programmes the SEKEM Medical Centre has to offer, to persuade them to visit its premises regularly, particularly during pregnancy.

Since the beginning of the project, around 800 pregnant women have been examined in the Medical Centre. More than 300 women were moreover able to participate in literacy classes. Additionally, the SDF team produced and distributed the “Mother-ChildBooklet”.

Approximately 97% of Egyptian companies have less than 10 employees. This carpenter is grateful for his new micro loan to extend his workshop. Many of these can be found in rural Egypt; they form a vital basis for many tiny entrepreneurial ventures.

Aid, Supervision and Guidance The members of the German support association and the SDF continue to realize whenever they visit the villages that often living circumstances can be so dire that many cannot relieve themselves of their suffering on their own. They need direct assistance.

Particularly non-lethal but persistent diseases like parasites make a combination of long-term support, direct assistance and additional measures to avoid dirt and remove waste indispensable.

Practical aid is also a part of prevention. A water pretreatment plant could be financed with the European funds. Now the waste waters of around 2.000 households can ow be transported regularly to the plant using a newly purchased tractor and mobile tank. The plant works on principles of biological water treatment and has also been integrated structurally into its desert surroundings, for instance through the use of the bio-active capabilities Many women are able to expand their businesses or found new ones with their new of local plants. micro loans. In this case, the shop shown also houses a street kiosk the product assortment of which could be substantially extended with the grant.

Issue January 2008

A central component of the project is also a measure on waste disposal. The tractor that is currently used for many tasks has also been fitted with a special trailer and can thus work as a rural waste collection system. It visits the villages regularly and collects all solid waste that is then unloaded on a site dedicated to facilitating sorting and recycling, a practice virtually unknown in rural Egypt. Collection, delivery, sorting and recycling of the waste had to be organized in an hygienically sound and efficient way to be able to support

„The measures on waste disposal organise the collection, removal and recycling of the waste.“ the entire group of 13 communities efficiently. Therefore, a central dumping site was selected with the option to add more space for the separation of waste.

The SDF has continuously shown that with empathy and perseverance as well as the financial support of the German association and other donors much can be achieved even with very small steps. The most practicable solution for the collection and transport of the garbage proved to be a system that was surprisingly simple. Until recently most waste had been collected by spe-

Page 3

Training courses are often conducted by women for women as shown here in one of the thirteen project communities on the topic of health...

cialized collectors using donkey cards.

However, the processing of garbage by hand is not even socially acceptable in the most remote areas of the Egypt of today. Thanks to the project, the tractor is today visiting the communities regularly as a rural waste removal system and also demonstrates the concrete benefits Egypt has from the cooperation with European partners through its colourful signs.

Better Education, Better Jobs Another part of the „13-Villages-Project“ focuses on the establishment of additional educational opportunities for

Egyptian adolescents, new forms of micro-credit financing and the strengthening of civic decision-making. The European institutions value highly the long-term sustainability of their development support. For several years already SEKEM’s German association has been supporting the vocational training centre through financial, personal and material help.

The SDF specifically intends to further the work of young Egyptians to create more and better future perspectives for them and strengthen their selfconfidence. Within the framework of the project two new vocational training curricula could be developed and

With her micro loan, an Egyptian woman was able to invest in more and better seeds she needs for growing their own food and for reselling to better their own livelihood and living circumstances.

Issue January 2008

...or by men for men, as shown here on the same topic and with assistance by a medical doctor and employing pictorial information material for illiterate participants.

started. Overall 63 new students began their training in the two courses in 2006 and 2007. This number shall be increased to around 90 in the fields of computer maintenance and sanitary installation by the end of the project.

Through their new courses the students will be able to find work more easily. Education in SEKEM is based on a strictly practice-oriented training in the workplace. Help to allow students to help themselves shall empower them to train their problem-solving skills. The curricula for the new courses had been developed anew during the first year of the project. The long-term cooperation of the SEKEM Vocational Training

Children play a vital role in several areas of the project. Here, they are assisting the rural waste removal team in the collection and recycling of the solid wastes of the communities.

Page 4

Centre with Egyptian public authorities ensures formal accreditation of the new learning content.

regular warm meals, gratuitous medical care and take part in awareness raisThe SEKEM Development Foundation ing programmes to (SDF) has a lot of experience in supinstruct them on porting children that are still frequently issues like hygiene affected by child labour in rural Egypt. or health care. Every three months they are examined by a „100 children suffering from team from the SDF’s child labour now receive Medical Centre.

They will later be regular meals, health care able to take part and education.“ in advanced training programmes.

Because of this fact, most awareThe “Chamomileness raising campaigns are supported Children” project the through educational programmes. This goal of which it is to Women and men take part in education courses on hygiene and medical care. In various forms, way families who have to earn some of break the vicious these courses form an integral part of the project. their livelihoods through the work of circle of inadequate their children are supported in ways education and poverty will be continfor many rural recipients, particularly reflecting the true needs of their daily ued throughout 2008. women. They can both start new busilives. The “Chamomile-Children” project nesses or expand existing ones. Many On the community level the SDF supthus can serve as a successful basis. The women, for instance, have started ports local citizen development project had originally been supported small kiosks or shops or begun raising groupts on a long-term basis during by multiple international donor agengeese, goats or even sheep. Many small their setup phase and during regucies. SEKEM has taken over financing businesses of men include workshops lar operation. Their work shall thus be several years ago. In the framework of like carpenters’ shops. made more sustainable and efficient. the project 100 children between 12 and Seven local „steering groups“ have 14 years could be supported in 2006 been established with the help of the and 2007. They were not able to attend „The SDF supports the SDF. Issues of common concern have school since they are often required to been discussed several times during establishment of local, earn up to one third of their families 2007 within their area of influence. livelihoods. The project offered them a community-based civic This includes the putting into practice financial compensation and was at the of the waste removal system or addidevelopment groups.“ same time able to reduce their worktional measures to protect the fragile load substantially using only appropridesert environment. In these circles ate light tasks. Through this support, the many of these activities have been dischildren were eventually able to attend cussed, planned and realized someBig Ideas for Small Initiatives school again for half the regular time. times with the assistance of external The project consciously makes the comThe success of the project until this partners. promise of tolerating children labour at day shows what sustainable beneTogether with partners from microleast temporarily to offer them basic fits can arise out of cooperative develcredit financing SEKEM has setup a educational services that remain comopment efforts. Even small initiatives concept for the financing of loans for patible with their familiar responsibililike the German support association, small-scale entrepreneurial ventures ties. All children have enough time to together with strong partners, can realby the project’s beneficiaries. It has receive schooling in reading, writing, ize projects of considerable scale if they also created a fund and has begun disarithmetic and religion. Five times per make use of the manifold opportunibursing loans to grantees since the week, artistic classes supplement their ties particularly international organisasecond half of 2007. Common loans of traditional curricula: they now offer tions have to offer them. This includes about 5.000 Egyptian Pounds often sufpainting, music, eurythmy, handicrafts the acquisition of European Union fice to finance small business activities and sports. The children also receive funds that also allow practice-oriented anthroposophic initiatives to take advantage of development opportuniThis project is financed by the European Union. ties of substantial financial dimensions.

The positions of the authors expressed by the text do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Commission.

Issue January 2008

Bijan Kafi

Page 5

SEKEM‘s Events in 2008 SEKEM cordially invites you to the following events both in SEKEM and in Germany with the participation of senior SEKEM representatives: 6 March 2008 in Ravensburg, Germany: Evening on the topic: SEKEM – Shaping the Future. With the participation of Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish. Registration and additional information at: Dietmar Kreuer, Tel : + 49 (0) 7556-931777, Fax: + 49 (0) 7556-931385, e-mail: dietmarkreuer@web.de 7 - 9 March in Dornach – Conference on the topic: SEKEM – A Social Art. Registration and additional information at: Sektion für Sozialwissenschaften, Goetheanum, Tel: +41 (0)61 7064444, e-mail: sektion.sozialwissenschaften@ goetheanum.ch 30 March - 4 April 2008 in SEKEM: Seminar on Islam with the participation of Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish, Martina Dinkel, Christine Gruwez and others.

Speeches by Dr. Abouleish, artistic exercises (Arabic script, Quran interpretation, arabic recitals), a oneday trip to Islamic Cairo with visits of ancient mosques.

All participants of the seminar have the opportunity to experience the various cultural, social and economic activity areas of SEKEM. Registration at: Dietmar Kreuer, Tel : + 49 (0) 7556-931777, Fax: + 49 (0) 7556-931385, e-mail: dietmarkreuer@web.de Or Regina Hanel, Tel +20 2 2656 4124 (Sa, Mo, Wed), Fax ++20 2 2656 4123 Email: regina.hanel@sekem.com 26 April 2008 in Stuttgart at the Rudolf-Steiner-Haus: SEKEM Day and annual members conference of the German support association Verein zur Förderung kultureller Entwicklung in Ägypten e.V. All members receive a separate written invitation – please mark the day.

Additional information will be made available in due course on www.sekemfreunde.de

Issue January 2008

Islam and the Dialogue of Cultures On the occasion of the 2008 relaunch of the Islam seminar SEKEM Insight spoke with Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish on SEKEM‘s efforts in the field of intercultural understanding.

How is it possible to develop a dialogue between different religions?

Dr. I. A.: You have to be able to respect the diversity in religious world views and spiritual expressions. We are not only talking about what is written in one certain place. It is also about the will to see and understand what it means in its true and original meaning. You continuously have to strive for an understanding of this meaning. The cultural impulse of Christ is a developmental impulse and can be perceived everywhere. But you could also speak of the Islamic impulse - actually, it is nothing else than the impulse of Christ in another form. If you look closely, you will understand this impulse as to simply mean human development.

However, the various religious groups desire to separate themselves from each other through their positions on issues like this.

In earlier times, the world was in a way easier to understand and most people were connected to the spiritual world in different ways than today. Today we demand individual self-reliance, freedom, transparency and identity.

ings of the Holy Trinity include such a position.

Would you say that the child as a rejuvenating force may be said to be closer to the spiritual world as the adult?

I.A.: Yes, and you always also find the shepherds and the kings - the truth seekers, that is - understanding this and looking for it. They are discovering the “new child” but most others do not. Also in this regard, only few have so far understood what this means.

In this sense the child - or the Son becomes very important in leading this development and in this way the cultural impulse of Christ has also inspired Islam as a congregation of human beings, as a religion. Again Islam has otherwise it would not have appeared - developed Christendom; think about the impulses in the applied sciences that have been given by it.

And today?

I.A.: Today it is necessary to develop a dialogue between the religions.

Will the spiritual man understand this unity in diversity, this meaning of Christendom as an impulse-giving force today?

I.A.: Absolutely and this will be the decisive task for the near future with all that it entails and that still has to be understood.

Questions: Regina Hanel

You have said that only a minor part of mankind does already understand this and has begun to develop an appropriate position towards it. How will the future look like for the majority of it?

I.A.: You have to make every effort to raise the awareness with everyone. Art plays a vital role in this together with the human and natural sciences.

God does not have a Son, does the Quran claim. How do you understand this if you think that the cultural impulse of Christ can be perceived even in Islam?

I.A.: The Quran does not speak about the Son of God in the biological sense here. No one in search of truth could understand this, not even the teach-

Imprint: Publisher: SEKEM, Egypt The editorial team of SEKEM Insight would like to thank all correspondents who have contributed to this edition.

Editors: Christina Boecker Bijan Kafi Natascha Floride Contactt: SEKEM-Insight c/o Sekem Holding P.O.Box 2834 El Horreya, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt

Page 6