The Sekem Effect

The remarkable story of Sekem, a sustainable community which thrives in the Egyptian desert. Explores their pioneering and inspiring vision for the future in ecology, economics, culture and social change.

When Dr Ibrahim Abouleish founded Sekem in 1977, his visionary aim was to create a new kind of sustainable community in the Egyptian desert where high quality biodynamic crops were grown, where workers and residents received holistic healthcare and their children received a meaningful education. In the years since, Sekem has gone from strength to strength, building an impressive network of farms across Egypt and Sudan, and working with local populations to bring about real social change.

In this inspiring book, Helmy Abouleish, son of Dr Abouleish and Chief Executive of Sekem, alongside Christine Arlt, describes the next stage in the development of this innovative community. Through a series of pioneering projects, they set out their vision for an integrated transformation of Egyptian society in the coming decades in areas relating to ecology, economics, culture and social transformation. Among them:

• the provision of holistic education that recognizes the potential of each person
• the promotion of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy to help Egypt become climate neutral
• the development of a recycling economy based on responsible consumption and a sustainable lifestyle
• a celebration of diversity that ensures equal opportunities for all

Through its practical efforts, Sekem and its community demonstrates how people the world over can feel empowered to shape their own society and develop confidence in the future.