SEKEM-Festival 2025
We are the change
10 to 12 October 2025 in Graz, Austria
SEKEM-Festival goes into the second round! After the premiere of the SEKEM-Festival 2024 in Fulda, we will meet this year in Austria, in Graz. Here, too, there are many SEKEM friends who support the vision in their local environment with great commitment.
Once again, we want to create a joint work: Organised by SEKEMers from Egypt, Austria and Germany, we are looking forward to the participation and co-creation of many SEKEM friends from all over the world.
- 10. - 12. October 2025
- Graz, Austria
- With the SEKEM community from Egypt and many friends from all over the world
Day 1 // 10. October 2025
SEKEM-Conference: Experience the Economy of the Future
14:00 - 21:00 // Festival Hall Minoritensaal // Mariahilferplatz 3, 8020 Graz
During this unique short conference, SEKEM’s four essential core strategies will be presented by CEO Helmy Abouleish and other leaders. Participants will be able to discuss and dialogue directly with SEKEM representatives.
It is a special format for managers, decision-makers, politicians and anyone who wants to contribute to an economy that not only ensures fair conditions, but also strives for the holistic potential unfolding of everyone involved.
What awaits you:
- Keynote Helmy Abouleish
- Contributions from SEKEM leaders
- Panel discussion with leaders from SEKEM and Austria
- Cultural interaction
- Concert – Arabic music on Austrian instruments
- Joint oriental dinner
1:00 PM – Admission
2:00 PM – Festive Opening & Cultural Encounters
- Keynote speech by Helmy Abouleish: Economy of the Future – Competitive in the Service of People and Nature
- 3 short presentations by SEKEM leaders:
- Thoraya Seada: Economy of Love – An Innovative Model Against Climate Change and for Sustainable Development
- Dr. Mohamed Anwar Shaheen: No Successful Economy Without the Development of People’s Potential
- Dr. Ahmed El-Shazly: Win-Win Business Models – Research for Ecological and Sustainable Development
- Panel Discussion:
SEKEM executives will discuss with Austrian executives how SEKEM’s success parameters can also be implemented in Austria and Europe. The panel includes:- Helmy Abouleish – CEO of the SEKEM Initiative
- Mary Androus – Managing Director of the Organic Egypt Foundation
- Moamen Ghanem – Director of the Center for Education for Sustainable Development, expert in cultural and social work in Egypt
- Sabine Jungwirth – Federal Spokesperson for the Austrian Green Economy
- Bernhard Puttinger – Cluster Manager, Green Tech Valley Cluster, a hotspot in the field of climate protection and the circular economy
- Ulli Retter – Managing Director and Owner of the Retter Organic Nature Resort
- Max Fuchslueger – Co-founder of Fridays for Future and the Earth is Burning; representative of Generation Z
- Michael Weiss – Founder of the House of Sustainable Economy; author, auditor, and consciousness coach
6:30 PM – Live Concert
7:30 PM – Get-together with Arabic Buffet & Music
Day 2 & 3 // 11. & 12. October 2025
SEKEM Days: We Are the Change
Waldorfschule, St. Peter Hauptstraße 182, 8042 Graz, Austria
What wants to go? What wants to come? In SEKEM, in our local context, in the world?
With these questions we want to initiate a co-creation – with SEKEM community members, SEKEM friends and all participants of the Festival. Together we are the change!
The SEKEM Days will not only offer insights into the SEKEM Vision Goals but also providing a space for innovation and collaboration. We believe that what the future needs can only be created out of a synthesis of different individual potentials, cultures and mindsets. So let us work together on the change!
The process will be phramed by inspiring inputs from SEKEM members, experienced change makers and common cultural activities.
During Day 3 we will discover the beautiful and historic surroundings of Graz while reflecting and deepening our experiences of the former day.
Here are some highlights of the program:
- Insights and exchange on SEKEM’s vision for 2057
- Co-creation process with SEKEM community members
- Joint lunch and dinner
- Cultural inputs and contributions
- Excursion to inspiring places at the countryside near Graz
Coaches: Christiane Leiste & Andreas Bertram, experts for Mindful for Leadership, Conflict Transformation, Lewis Deep Democracy, CoResolve and much more. They work on regular basis intensively with SEKEM leaders from all different fields and will lead the visionprocess on this day.
9:00 – 10:30
For something new to emerge, there must be space – and for that, the old must be allowed to pass. Change means not only shaping, but also letting go.
- Welcome and Check-in
- Introduction to the theme with Helmy Abouleish
- Group Work
10:30 – 11:00 – Coffee Break
11:00 – 13:00
Out of letting go arises space – space for hope, for new beginnings, for what is waiting to come. We take inspiration from SEKEM’s vision for the future: How can the new be shaped, and what wants to come into life through us?
- Introduction to the theme with Helmy Abouleish
- Group Work and Exchange
13:00 – 14:30 – Lunch Break with Shared Meal
14:30 – 16:30
We have explored what wants to emerge – now it is about giving form to the new. Together, we develop concrete project ideas – with SEKEM, as Friends of SEKEM, or independently within our own contexts.
- Active start to the afternoon (shared physical activity)
- Presentation of project ideas and formation of working groups
16:30 – 17:00 – Coffee & Cake Break
17:00 – 18:30
Project Presentations and Closing with Music
19:00 – Dinner
9:00 – Departure by bus from Graz to Stainz
- Guided tour of the Archduke Johann Exhibition at Stainz Castle – the place of activity of visionary thinker and reformer Archduke Johann
- Drive through Southwest Styria to Flamberg to visit KLEINeFARM; guided tour of the community-based organic agriculture practiced there and introduction to “Incubator Farming.”
- Shared picnic / light lunch
15:00 – Return to Graz
Join us and book your ticket:
SEKEM Conference
Day 1
OCT 10
Ticket Price*
140€
Price for Members**
100€
Price for Youth***
50€
SEKEM Days
Day 2 & 3
OCT 11 & 12
Ticket Price*
160€
Price for Members**
130€
Price for Youth***
80€
SEKEM-Festival
3 Days
OCT 10, 11 & 12
Ticket Price*
250€
Price for Members**
180€
Price for Youth***
100€
* The ticket price includes participation in the respective program as well as an Arabic dinner on day 1, lunch and dinner on day 2 and lunch on day 3.
** Reduced ticket prices only for members of one of the SEKEM Freinds Associations. If you are not a member yet, but want to become one, please follow the link to respective association in your country: Deutschland | Österreich | Netherlands | Scandinavia | Italy
***Reduced ticket prices for young people below the age of 21, pupils and students.
Q&A
Will accomodation be provided?
No, we will not provide accomodation this time. This is where the SEKEM team will stay and our recommendation :
Harrys Home (A room allotment is available for the SEKEM Festival: Single room €79 / Double room €99)
Is there a reduced fee for members of the SEKEM-Friends Associations?
Yes. If you are a member of one of the SEKEM Freinds Associations, you can book your ticket with a reduced rate. If you want to become a member, please follow the link to respective association in your country: Deutschland | Österreich | Netherlands | Scandinavia | Italy
Is there a reduced fee for youth?
Yes, there is a reduced ticket price for pupils and students. Kindly send us your pupils or students card when booking your ticket.
What will be the main language of the Congress?
Day 1, the Congress, will have both German and English contributions but there will a professional simultaneous interpretation available.
What will be the main language of the SEKEM Days?
The main language of Day 2 and 3 (SEKEM Days) will be English, but we will provide support for those who do not understand and speak English well. Kindly send us a short message, if you are in need for that.