Learning Out of The Box

To be themselves, think critically and to become change makers — this is what SEKEM wants children to be. The first SEKEM crowdfunding campaign just raised more than 21,000 USD. With the funds, the SEKEM Environmental Science Center (SESC) as part of the SEKEM School is now able to establish an alternative education lab to experiment with innovative curricula serving holistic education. SEKEM sends a big Thank you to every contributor for their support!

SESC already offers interactive science classes on environmental topics at the SEKEM School since 2010 and has served around 3000 students so far. At SESC, students aged between five and 16 years from the SEKEM Community, as well as from other national and international schools learn to challenge themselves and their knowledge. Through that, they will get a deeper sense of societal and environmental responsibility and ability to act accordingly.

Transforming education in Egypt

The SEKEM School is approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Education and is based on the Egyptian State Curriculum. Next to that, SESC designs its own curricula and promotes new forms of educational and social interaction at the SEKEM School. It wants to add an impulse for a future-oriented and innovation-driven education in Egypt, as the governmental education doesn’t advance independent-minded pupils. Using the five pillars of Education for Sustainable Development (Be, Know, Do, Live and Transform), SESC sets a new way of youth engagement in order to face the challenges of the 21st century, such as water shortage and food security, wars and poverty.

“We urgently need a transformation of education in Egypt. We need a holistic educational system that encourages environmental and societal action, fosters creative thinking and strengthens the concept of learning outside the classroom. We want our children to try and to explore, to ask critical questions and to experiment on future perspectives – without there being a right or wrong or bad grades”, explains Soraya Abouleish who is one of the SESC campaigners.

A first time for SEKEM: Crowdfunding

Within 30 days, SESC raised 107 percent of its crowdfunding target. In line of the holistic approach, SESC will use the money to establish science labs, as well as English language courses and computer labs.

To symbolize gratitude to the supporters who helped to reach 107 percent of their target, SESC made this tribute song.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJqWI7J3zwo[/embedyt]

Christina Büns

Starting the educational revolution in Egypt – SEKEM Environmental Science Center.
Find out about SEKEMs first crowdfunding campaign.
Read about education and schools.