Sustainable Development Archive

The couple who quit their high paid jobs to live off-grid

by makromedien | 6.Nov. 2019 | News | 0 comments

Charis and Matthew live a very different lifestyle to your average family

A family who escaped the “rat race” of the city to live completely off grid have revealed that their only bill left is council tax. Seven years ago, Essex vets Charis and Matthew Watkinson decided to drop everything and start afresh.

For the pair it was a big, and daunting idea – not least due to their lack of farming experience. But, now parents to Elsa, five, and 18-month-old Billy, the family of four have found a way to adapt to everything from their man-powered washing machine to their horse-poo powered cooking gas by using solely the land they live off.

Speaking from Beeview Farm in Pembrokeshire, Charis, 34, said: “We were in Essex when the London riots were going on and they got within a mile of us on the last night. “Then there was the Occupy London which was all about relying on consumerism and that affected us we did rely on shops. “We just figured we wanted to be able to look after ourselves and be a bit more self sufficient.” For the couple the idea continued to grow, prompted by some research into today’s climate crisis.

The Essex vet added: “Neither of us are from Wales but we knew about Newport as we had been camping here and loved the area. “I think by the time we handed in our notices I knew I needed to do it. As we were just locuming after we moved we didn’t have a job lined up so living without a stable plan was a big thing. But we were ready to get going. “Otherwise we would have bought [a house] – we almost had it that way with a mortgage and a job but we didn’t want to carry on with the rat race.
We almost did it without thinking about it.”

SEKEM – The Idea of Holistic Sustainable Development

by makromedien | 30.Oct. 2019 | News | 0 comments

photosource: https://www.sekem.com/en/media/pictures/

When Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish returned to Egypt in 1977 to start the SEKEM Initiative he had a strong vision deep in his heart:

“In the midst of sand and desert I see myself standing before a well drawing water. Carefully I plant trees, herbs and flowers and wet their roots with the precious drops. The cool well water attracts human beings and animals to refresh and quicken themselves. Trees give shade, the land turns green, fragrant flowers bloom, insects, birds and butterflies show their devotion to God, the creator, as if they were citing the first Sura of the Qu’ran. The human, perceiving the hidden praise of God, care for and see all that is created as a reflection of paradise on earth. For me this idea of an oasis in the middle of a hostile environment is like an image of the resurrection at dawn, after a long journey through the nightly desert. I saw it in front of me like a model before the actual work in the desert started. And yet in reality I desired even more: I wanted the whole world to develop.”

Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish

Vision & Mission

SEKEM Initiative was founded with the vision of sustainable development and giving back to the community. It aims to develop the individual, society and environment through a holistic approach which integrates ecology, economy, societal and cultural life. Today, the vision that brought Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish to dig the first well in the vast desert land still resounds in all of SEKEMs activities. Like a compass, our vision, mission and values guide us in the everyday work in all SEKEM institutions.

History

About-History In 1977, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish started the SEKEM Initiative on an untouched part of the Egyptian desert (70 hectares) 60 km northeast of Cairo. Using Biodynamic agricultural methods, desert land was revitalized and a striving agricultural business developed. Over the years, SEKEM became the umbrella of a multifaceted agro-industrial group of companies and NGOs, including different educational institutions and a Medical Center. Today, SEKEM is regarded as a leading social business worldwide.

Read more about SEKEMs history

Founders

After experiencing two completely different worlds, European and Egyptian culture, the vision of SEKEM appeared in Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish’s mind. When he then bought desert land to realize his dream and build up a sustainable community, he was called crazy. Together with the support of some other dreamers and believers however, he realized a small miracle in the desert. Helmy Abouleish, Dr. Abouleish’s son and most dedicated supporters, now serves as Chief Executive Officer.

Read more about SEKEMs founders

Awards

In 2003, the Schwab Foundation awarded Dr. Abouleish as one of the world’s outstanding Social Entrepreneurs. That same year, SEKEM and Dr. Abouleish received the prestigious “Right Livelihood Award”, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize. The awarding committee stated that “SEKEM demonstrates how a modern business model combines profitability and success in world markets with a humane and spiritual approach to people while maintaining respect for the environment.”

The photo on the right showes Hans-Martin Schempp presenting the One World Family Award in 2013 in Germany.

Read more about awards

Friends, Partners & Network

Since the very beginning, SEKEM has understood that its great vision could only be realized through the support of a network of strong partners. Therefore, since 1977 SEKEM has continuously striven to foster a strong network of dedicated partners to work with in a fair and transparent way. Building partnerships based on mutual trust is important not only in private but also in economic life. SEKEM would not have been possible without long standing cooperation that has been developed over the years.

Organizational Structure

The Companies within SEKEM are part of the SEKEM Holding, which was established in 2000. Each Company within SEKEM Holding has its own Management Board. Selected Managers of the Companies and the Holding Management take part in the Management Meeting, which is held on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. The Holding Company is led by a Board of Directors, which is in charge of major strategic and financial decisions in regards to the SEKEM Holding.

Explore SEKEMs organizational structure

Sustainability & Sustainability Reports

SEKEM was founded with the idea of sustainable development and the aim to build a prosperous future for the surrounding communities and Egypt. Through a holistic approach that includes the four dimensions of economy, ecology, cultural and societal life, SEKEM strives to truly implement sustainability. This holistic concept guides SEKEM and all its institutions like a compass in the everyday work. Supported by the SEKEM Sustainability Flower, the Initiative yearly monitors its performance in the SEKEM Sustainability Report.

Read more about sustainability

Read SEKEM News

Future Policy Award 2019 Goes to Best Policies Empowering Youth

The World Future Council announced the winners of the Future Policy Award 2019 on the 11th of October. This year the best policies empowering youth are awarded. The ceremony broadcast took place on the 16th of October, for the whole world to celebrate the eight inspiring winners selected from among 67 nominated policies from 36…

ESDW 2018 – European Sustainable Development Week

by makromedien | 10.Apr. 2018 | Event | 0 comments

WHEN: May 30 – June 05, 2018
WHERE: around Europe

The European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) is an initiative to facilitate the organization of activities that promote sustainable development and make these efforts visible on a common platform. The recently adopted global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) articulates key issues that call for urgent action at all levels and by all stakeholders. The ESDW contributes to this ambitious, universal and transformative agenda by promoting the organization of bottom-up activities that have a thematic link to and support the SDGs. As such, the ESDW aims to raise awareness for the 2030 Agenda in Europe and calls upon local stakeholders to actively engage with sustainable development, in general, and the SDGs, in particular.

Activities will be able to be registered and viewed on this website. This will be a tool for organizers to promote their project and attract higher participation. Furthermore, they will gain access to promotion material (logos, posters, banners etc.) on the site, highlighting their participation in a concerted European effort for sustainable development.

The ESDW will act as an umbrella for existing national sustainable development weeks in France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic and will trigger new initiatives, activities and events in EU Member States and other European countries. To encourage inclusiveness and diversity, the registration for organizers is open to all forms of government agencies, research centres, educational institutions, museums, foundations, community organizations, associations, businesses and NGOs, as well as individual citizens, etc. The central criterion for eligibility to take part in the ESDW is that the proposed project / initiative addresses one or more dimensions of sustainable development and is not exclusively profit-oriented. This could include, but is not limited to: conferences, exhibitions, markets, film screenings, community activities, sustainable business initiatives and education projects.

The Environment Ministers of France, Germany and Austria have jointly presented the initiative of organizing an annual, European-wide sustainable development week at Environment Council on the 28^th October 2014, where it was welcomed by the Commission and several Member States. Subsequently, the ESDW will be coordinated by the ESDN Office at the Institute for Managing Sustainability at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria.

To get to Website, please click here…