Joint project: schoolchildren and senior citizens design "benches for tolerance"

Bocholt - Pupils and senior citizens have now built "Benches for Tolerance" together as part of the project week at the vocational college at the water tower. The benches are to be installed in Bocholt city centre during the holiday weeks.

The project took place over two days this week. The participants were welcomed by representatives from the City of Bocholt's senior citizens' office and the Caritas Association Bocholt. A brief introduction to the topic of tolerance was followed by a joint breakfast, where everyone had the opportunity to socialise and get to know each other.

The pupils and senior citizens were then divided into teams. Equipped with cordless screwdrivers, they assembled the benches together. Then the creative phase began: the teams designed the benches with colours and different motifs such as handprints, doves of peace and rainbows. There were no limits to their creativity on the subject of tolerance.

At the end, everyone involved agreed that it had been a successful project. "It was great fun for both the pupils and the senior citizens", says Sarah Bußmann from the Bocholt senior citizens' office. "The co-operation worked really well, there was a lot of laughter on both days", says Bußmann.

The eight finished benches will be on display in the city centre during the summer holidays. After the holidays, they will be distributed to various social institutions, where they will remain permanently.