(RE) THINK
(RE) FEEL
(RE) DO
WORLD GOETHEANUM FORUM 2025 - 24-28 SEPTEMBER 2025 - SEKEM/EGYPT
For the first time, the World Goetheanum Forum is going to Sekem, the place of lived sustainable development and United Nations Champion of the Earth 2024! As a ‘Sustainable Native’, Sekem has almost 50 years of experience in ecological, social, economic and cultural sustainable development.
We invite you to actively engage with partners and practitioners worldwide in forum work on sustainable development.
Looking forward to welcoming you in SEKEM, on behalf of the preparation group,
in collaboration with
Biodynamic Federation Demeter International
Maria Paz Bernaschina and Juan-Martin Richter
Egyptian Biodynamic Association & Economy of Love
Justus Harm and Naagla Ahmed
Eosta & Robin Food Coalition
Volkert Engelsman
Heliopolis University
Ahmed Elshazly
NaturaSi
Fabio Brescacin
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
Lin Bautze
The Club of Rome
Till Kellerhof and Carlos Alvarez Pereira
World Ethic Forum
Luea Ritter and Linard Bardill
World Future Council
Neshan Gunasekera
YOU ARE INVITED AS AN ACTOR, STAKEHOLDER, (POLICY)MAKER, THINKER, FEELER, AND DOER TO:
RE-THINK
RE-FEEL
RE-DO
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
DURING OUR 2025 WORLD GOETHEANUM FORUM IN SEKEM, EGYPT
Not a “nice to have”: Sustainable Development is not merely a “nice to have” or a directive to report on; it shapes the very backbone of our future global society. Cultivating development is humanity’s contribution to the Earth and
our common future. After 40 years of its institutionalised existence, it is clear that Sustainable Development itself is in need of an upgrade and expansion: to re-think, re-feel, and re-do it.
World-Viewing, -Sensing, -Acting: There is a call to integrate inner and outer practices and actions for transformation. We need to identify the worldviews behind our attitudes and behaviours in order to provoke life-affirming actions: aligning our world-viewing, world- sensing, and world-acting.
Visioning, Researching, Prototyping, Scaling, and Mainstreaming are the process steps drawn from SEKEM’s 48 years of Sustainable Development experience. These steps will guide the content and help establish concrete new common ground.
Anthroposophical Approaches & Beyond:
For over 100 years, anthroposophical enterprises and initiatives have contributed to Sustainable Development through experimental and holistic approaches. For instance, the world’s first established organic agriculture method, known as Biodynamic Agriculture, was introduced in 1924, followed by the Demeter organic certification from 1928 onwards. Other enterprises such as SEKEM, Weleda, Eosta, Alnatura, Odin, WALA, Dr. Hauschka, Sonett, Voelkel, GLS Bank, Monte Azul, and more have followed.
SEKEM, 24–28 September 2025:
At this year’s World Goetheanum Forum, we invite you to re-think, re-feel, and re-do Sustainable Development in SEKEM, UNEP’s Champion of the Earth 2024. We aim to fuse practices and cultivate the required capacities — both individual and collective — that serve all forms of life. How do you think, feel, and do Sustainable Development? How can we enable a culture of care across sectors, places, cultures, and scales? What are the next steps for it to become tangible and meaningfully adapted to respective contexts? And how
can we improve collaborative and associative efforts?
Looking forward to welcoming you in SEKEM, on behalf of the preparation group.
"Our work is influenced by the understanding that everybody is a farmer, directly or indirectly, and thus we carry a co-creative responsibility for the Earth's health and our social interdependence.”
Johannes Kronenberg, Project Team Executive Council and Goetheanum Leadership and Research Associate Sustainable Development
GENERAL INFORMATION
Further information regarding your trip you will receive when booking accomodation and bustransfer Sekem.
- Outward and return flights must be booked individually and independently.
- We recommend to book flights early.
- We recommend arriving earlier or staying longer to visit Cairo and other sights - see also the offer ‘Optional private guided tours’.
- If you want to take the opportunity to see Sekem Wahat Farm, we recommend staying until 30 September.
- International health insurance and travel cancellation insurance must be taken out individually.
- On arrival, a 30-day tourist visa must be obtained at Cairo airport (25 EUR).
- Sekem will organise a transfer from the airport and back. Please refer to the 'Accommodation and Transfer' section for information about service costs.
- In Sekem you will receive full board with organic food and (non-alcoholic) drinks. If meals cannot be taken in Sekem, we will provide packed lunches.The prices for meals during the conference (see conference program) are included in the conference program. Full board in SEKEM outside the conference period costs 37 EUR (2 meals) per day/person, in addition to the room price.
ENVIRONMENTAL TRAVEL IMPACT
The environmental travel impact of this event will be minimised as much as possible by investing in SEKEM’s Greening the Desert programme and Demeter Egypt’s carbon credits for biodynamic smallholder farmers. These initiatives represent tangible and active contributions to offset greenhouse gas emissions. However, the inherent dissonance of environmental impact—particularly for an event focused on sustainable development—remains a persistent challenge.
Striking a balance between mitigation, adaptation, and fostering meaningful global encounters and collaboration continues to be an ongoing endeavour.
ACCOMODATION AND TRANSFER SEKEM
(Organisation: Viandantsi)
Accomodation Sekem
The conference prices include meals during the conference (see conference program). Full board in SEKEM outside the conference period costs 37 EUR (2 meals) per day/person, in addition to the room price.
Sekem offers accommodation in single rooms, double rooms and shared rooms.
(Price per night):
- Single room in the main guesthouse: 47.- EUR
- Double room in the main guesthouse: 33.- EUR
- Youth hostel bed with shared bathroom: 18.- EUR
- Youth hostel bed with private bathroom in single room: 30.- EUR
- Youth hostel bed with private bathroom price for a double room: 25.- EUR
Airporttransfer 2 ways per person: 50.- EUR
BOOKING ROOMS/AIRPORT-TRANSFER SEKEM [>]
Accomodation Ramadan City
As accommodation in Sekem is limited, we recommend booking early; further accommodation (for self-booking) can be found in Ramadan City, 20 minutes by car from Sekem.
A recommendation of a hotel you can find in short via this Website.
Shuttle/taxi service can be provided.
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.
Sustainable development since 1977
GETTING TO KNOW SEKEM
Please note that Sekem guided tours can no longer be booked individually but are now included in the programme.
The programme of the World Goetheanum Forum includes the opportunity to explore the Sekem site through integrated silent walks, guided tours and collaborative activities.
You will also have the opportunity to learn about Heliopolis University at the pre-event 'Sustainable Development for Global Impact: Scientific Conference' at Heliopolis University on Wednesday, 24 September from 10 am to 4 pm.
At the post-event 'Celebrating Farming: Climate Heroes of Egypt', which takes place on Sunday, 28 September from 10 am to 2 pm, you will have the opportunity to get to know the Sekem-Farm.
CONTACT PRE- AND POSTEVENT [>]
PRE- AND POSTEVENT SEKEM
We gladly announce the pre-event 'Sustainable Development for Global Impact: Scientific Conference' at Heliopolis University on Wednesday, 24 September from 10 am to 4 pm as well as the post-event 'Celebrating Farming: Climate Heroes of Egypt', which takes place on Sunday, 28 September from 10 am to 2 pm - organised by Sekem.
CONTACT PRE- AND POSTEVENT [>]
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Call for Papers & Abstracts | Sustainable Development for Global Impact Scientific Conference | Heliopolis
Launching of the inaugural edition for Heliopolis University's Scientific Conference: Sustainable Development for Global Impact.
The conference is dedicated to supporting researchers across universities & organizations with innovative solutions for the sustainable development of communities, on national & international levels.
Happening on 23-24 September, the conference is now accepting submissions for papers, until 18 July, tackling the 4 main pillars of sustainable development as follows:
- Culture: Fostering Human Flourishing and Identity
- Ecology: Stewarding Our Planet
- Economy: Building Regenerative Prosperity
- Society: Cultivating Just and Equitable Communities
For more details on the various tracks in each pillar & submission guidelines, please check the conference concept note and submission form through the link here:
https://linktr.ee/hu.osp
Feel free to check out & engage with the announcements on HU Office of Sponsored Programs social media channels; LinkedIn here, Facebook here & Instagram here.
Please feel free to reach out for any inquiries & I look forward to your participation & hearing from you.
CONTACT PRE- AND POSTEVENT [>]
OPTIONAL PRIVATE TOURS
Make use of the chance to be in Egypt and visit some of the historical and cultural highligths of the country! We suggest therefor to arrive at and leave Sekem with time!
Wednesday, 24th September:
a) Gyza Pyramids + Old Egyptian Museum
Sunday, 28th September:
a) The Coptic Cairo, the Hanging Church, the Mosque Sultan Hassan + Khan El Khalili Bazaar
b) Visit to Wahat Farm (leaving at 7:00 from Sekem!) - coming back to Sekem on Monday 29th September in the evening (at about 18:30/19)
***
Prizes optional tours a)
3 - 12 pax = 80 EUR per person
13 - 21 pax = 55 EUR per person
22 - 30 pax = 45 EUR per person
What is included:
- Lunch box and water during sightseeing
- All day transportation (about 1,5 hours drive to Cairo)
- Tour guide
Not included:
- Tickets to all sites
- Any extra expenses
Prize optional tour b) Wahat:
3 - 12 pax = 400 EUR per person
13 - 21 pax = 300 EUR per person
22 - 30 pax = 250 EUR per person
What is included:
- Transportation to Wahat (about 7 hours driving)
- Wahat guided tour
- 1 overnight staying in Wahat (with shared bathrooms) 28-29.9.
- 1 overnight staying in the Sekem 29-30.9.
- Tutoring and assisting through the whole trip
Organisation and contact:
ViandantiSì
Ilaria Vudafieri/Arianne Rigoni
Group Travel Manager
tel. +39 0438 477318
mobile: +39 335 7434964
www.viandantisi.it
TICKETS
The conference prices include meals, Sekem-tours and flight compensation (CO2 compensation).
Registration until: 10 September 2025
Sponsorship price
For participants who would like to enable others to take part who are unable to pay the normal price. In addition, we support the conversion of Egyptian farmers to biodynamic agriculture.
Institutional price
For participants registering on behalf of their institution.
Normal price
Reduced price
For students, pupils, trainees and military/civil service personnel, can only be granted with enclosed proof of status.
Socio-economic tickets and low income countries
In individual cases, we can partially reimburse travel expenses as well as the conference ticket. Please send us a short letter of motivation at (association@worldgoetheanum.org), including your first name, last name, year of birth, and email address. What is your motivation for attending this forum?
