Trainee nursery school teachers visit mosque

Eighteen trainee nursery teachers from the August Vetter Vocational College recently visited the Diyanet Fatih Mosque on Langenbergstraße. The participants were given practical insights into the Islamic faith and local community life. The aim of the visit was to promote intercultural competence for future educational work.

On Thursday 16 April, the third-year students visited the Diyanet Fatih Mosque at Langenbergstraße 49, accompanied by the initiator and subject teacher Manuela Waschki and Tugay Turgut, the son of the founder of the community. Turgut first explained to the group the historical beginnings of the mosque, which was founded as a small community in 1985. In doing so, he imparted both the theoretical basics of Islam and practical tips on everyday life within a mosque community.

In the men's prayer room, the participants had the opportunity to attend a prayer in a quiet atmosphere while observing the ritual customs. During the tour, key aspects of religious practice were discussed, including the five pillars of Islam, the importance of prayer times and the duties of the imam. The spatial separation of the sexes during prayers was also explained in detail. In a subsequent round of reflection, the prospective professionals worked out the differences and similarities between the Christian and Islamic faiths and between the respective places of worship.

Closer cooperation is planned in order to facilitate such intercultural encounters on a permanent basis in future. Isabel Testroet, Director of the Adult Education Centre and the Junge Uni, Fatma Boland from the Adult Education Centre and Manuela Waschki from the August Vetter Vocational College will work together with the city's Integration Officer Bruno Wansing to consolidate the format. The aim is to strengthen interfaith dialogue in Bocholt in the long term and establish it as an integral part of educational work.