SEKEM a lighthouse project: Ibrahim Abouleish receives accolade of German governorate Baden-Württemberg

November 2015

„By Dr. Abouleish’s living vision SEKEM became a lighthouse project, receiving recognition all over the world and building a role model for other nations and their development projects“, Klaus-Peter Murawski said. The minister of the German governorate Baden-Württemberg honoured Ibrahim Abouleish with the “Staufermedaille” on November 25.

The accolade is given to people, who made special efforts toward the German governorate Baden-Württemberg. Hence, Murawski said that Ibrahim Abouleish is „an outstanding, social committed entrepreneur, who strengthened the German-Egyptian relations and built many friendships and business contacts to and with Baden-Württemberg“. The SEKEM Friends Association, with its headquarter in Stuttgart, is an impressive example for that. Since 1983, the SEKEM Friends are committed to spread the SEKEM vision in Germany and Europe and support the initiatives mission to promote sustainable development, especially within the social and cultural fields. Murawski: „Abouleish found strong and committed partners, also in Baden-Württemberg, to realize his vision and who support him until today via the SEKEM Friends Association Germany.”

Cultural Understanding, Environmental Protection and Sustainability

The „Staufermedaille“ was inaugurated in the occasion of an exhibition about the history and culture of the famous and influencing noble family the Staufer in 1977. When Abouleish was holding his speech of thanks, he especially remembered that the Staufer emperor, Friedrich II., was of enormous meaning for the Christian-Islamic dialogue. During the time of crusades he was able to reach peace and an agreement with the Sultan al-Kamil. Together with the “Staufermedaille” a certificate is delivered, in which the minister expresses his gratitude and recognition.

„Since decades, Ibrahim Abouleish is highly committed to sustainable development, to cultural exchange and understanding, and to environmental protection”, it is written in the certificate that was given to Abouleish by minister Murawski. “With establishing the SEKEM initiative he created an oasis in the Egyptian desert, where people from different nations and cultures live and work together.“

Additionally, SEKEMs holistic development approach was mentioned. SEKEM is described to always consider nature and individual needs in all its activities and processes so that the initiative became a role model for a peaceful coexistence between people and different cultures.

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