19. December 2023
Integration Council
Joint cookery evening connects people and cultures
Bocholt - The "Generation Cooking" event brings together old and young, as well as people from different cultures. The fourth edition has now taken place in the multi-generational house of the Bocholt Family Education Centre (FABI). Several local initiatives were involved, including the city of Bocholt's integration office. The aim of the event is to strengthen social and cultural togetherness. This time, the participants ranged in age from 16 to 78.
The association "Leben im Alter" (L-i-A), the senior citizens' office and the integration office of the city of Bocholt as well as the FABI organised the event as part of the "IHelp" and "GenKuVie" (abbreviation for "Generations - Cultures - Diversity") projects of the Federal Working Group of Senior Citizens' Offices. The team was supported by Jusina e.V.. Sangita Pobat from the "GenKuVie" project took part for the first time.
At the third edition in March, the participants had requested typical Syrian dishes. And so the organisers chose "Shakria" as the main course from the intercultural cookbook "Bocholt is(s)t bunt", which was published last year by the Integration Council of the city of Bocholt, a recipe by Lutfieh Rezk Almasri from the German-Syrian Association in Bocholt. The appetiser was baba ganoush, followed by shakria and the Arabic cake aish el saraya for dessert. To take away was "Mamounia", a sweet Arabic breakfast porridge.
Engaging in dialogue - learning from each other
"With this campaign, we want senior citizens to do something together with young people and get into conversation," emphasises Agnes Wellkamp from the "Leben im Alter" association. "It's also important that people with an international family history exchange ideas and learn from each other," adds Bruno Wansing, integration officer for the city of Bocholt.
Ulrich Vogel, who himself lived in Turkey for 17 years, met Sahziye Öztemiz, for example, who came to Germany from Turkey in 1975. "My expectations of this meeting were far exceeded," said Vogel, "I had many interesting conversations." Hiwad Sartor and Suliman Momand are two young Afghans who live in "Gleis 24" in Bahnhofstraße. Both were pleased to be able to talk to the others: "It was a good experience for us."
The organisers are considering whether to continue this social format next year with different topics such as cooking or handicrafts. "I'm sure, as the reactions now and last time have shown, that it will be worthwhile," summarises L-i-A employee Wellkamp. Two dates are planned for 2024, the first of which is expected to take place at the beginning of March.
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