Cooking connects: Generations and cultures meet at the cooker

People chopped, stirred, laughed - and ate delicious food at the end: On 3 April 2025, people from different backgrounds and generations came together to cook in the kitchen of the family education centre in Bocholt.

The event was organised by Jusina e.V. as part of the iHelp project in cooperation with FABI, the Leben im Alter e.V. (L-i-A) association, the city of Bocholt's integration office and the Integration Council. The aim of the project is to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together and to encourage young volunteers in particular to get involved.

Spices and dishes are part of German food culture

The food was cooked under the expert guidance of Ataf Chaudhry and his wife Kanwal Chaudhry, who come from Pakistan and have lived in Bocholt for many years. Mr Chaudhry has been giving cookery courses at FABI since 2018 and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for Pakistani cuisine with other people. "In the past, it was almost impossible to buy the ingredients for our cuisine - today you can get them in discount stores. Our spices and dishes have long since become part of German food culture", says Chaudhry.

The dishes served that evening included pakory (a popular Pakistani snack), roti (flatbread), kofty salen (minced meatballs in sauce), plau with vegetables and chicken, sweet and colourful rice, yoghurt and salad.

Guests from a wide variety of countries of origin

After a short round of introductions and presentation of the dishes, the guests cooked together in four colourful groups. People from a wide variety of countries of origin - including Pakistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Syria, Guinea, Angola, Afghanistan, Poland and Germany - worked hand in hand. Old and young, newcomers to Bocholt and "old hands", pensioners, students and professionals got chatting and laughed together about the odd kitchen mishap.

"In the kitchen, age doesn't matter - it's all about doing things together", said Susanne Rademacher from the family education centre. "It was already the sixth edition of this format - and it shows once again how wonderful it is when people come together, exchange ideas and learn from each other."

An important component of this success is the long-standing, trusting cooperation between the partners: jusina e.V., the Family Education Centre (FABI), the Integration Council, L-i-A e.V. (Leben im Alter) and the Berufskolleg am Wasserturm have been working closely together for a long time to promote intercultural encounters and intergenerational togetherness in Bocholt. This continuous cooperation creates reliability and spaces for encounters, which are used by the participants with great openness and joy.

The participants' reactions to the cookery afternoon were consistently enthusiastic:
"I didn't think it would be so much fun - I'll definitely be back!", said Marlies from Voerde. Melinda, a pupil in Bocholt, was happy to "meet new people outside of school". "I was a bit scared at first because of all the people", said Lana, a pupil at the Weiterbildungskolleg, "but then I spoke to Maesty and made a new friend - now we even want to read books together."

Series to be continued

The host himself was also moved: "It was nice to see how many countries people came from today, how well they got on even though they didn't know each other before - almost like children in a sandpit: without any prejudices", said Ataf Chaudhry.

For many, it was clear that it was not just a culinary evening, but a valuable contribution to greater understanding, openness and togetherness in a diverse urban society. Or as participant Qismat put it: "I got to know new faces - I really enjoyed it. I hope we cook together again soon."

Bruno Wansing, integration officer for the city of Bocholt, announces a continuation of the series: ""Perhaps this year, but certainly next year, there will be an intercultural intergenerational cookery event", says Wansing, precisely because the exchange between young and old and also between people with and without an international family history is so important.