Our internship in SEKEM: "What about it?"

After spending 10 weeks at the eco village in Brasil, Piracanga, six yippies have waved goodbye to the other ones and wonder into the desert area, the SEKEM community in Egypt.

We were surprised at the first time when we came into this community, as the image is far from our imagination of Egypt, in a more European style instead, with white round clay houses, green grass and beautiful flowers. Everything is being well organized, and functions in its own way. This area includes the Nature Tex factory for clothes, medical center, hotel, cultural space, schools from kindergarten up to grade 12, for vocational students, and for the special needs. As well they have farm, garden and cafeteria.

Every morning, all parts of the community start the day with their small circles, and at the end of the week all workers (around 2.000 people) ends together at the big circle, of which they report briefly about their work, and the heads of each parts would shake the workers' hands one by one and send them home for the only holiday of the week. This is something special in Egypt, that instead of having Saturday and Sunday as their weekend, having only Friday as the day off.

Even though we are living together in the Art House, six yippies have all got different mission for their internship with SEKEM. Two go to the school (each focus on different subjects and activities), one being in the Heliopolis University of SEKEM, one at the head office, one writes articles for SEKEM, and one working with construction also at the Heliopolis University. Thus every evening we sit together, share food while sharing our experience of the day.

Further than that, we hold once a week yippies' community meeting, as well as once a week a meeting with SEKEM. In addition, some small chats and deep level conversations around the bon fire is when

we build up the connection between us and them.

"What's your name?" "what's your name?" as soon as we entered the school, children came and surrendered us, staring at us with their curious look, while one by one asking us the same question about our names again and again.

My mission is to offer music lessons at the school, from class 1 to class 6, and singing English songs with the students at the beginning of their English classes.

This is my basic job, yet unexpected tasks can also come along, such as playing accordion in the morning circle, figuring out piano part for the children's presentations on Thursdays, and play piano piece as an opening for teacher's meeting and so on.

This is the third week of our internship. Daily busy life is going on in its own pattern, still to be continued.

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