In diesem Jahr soll auf Anregung des Integrationsrates der Stadt Bocholt ein internationales Kochbuch entstehen, in dem Geschichten und Gerichte der Gastarbeiter der ersten Stunde aber auch der mit Bocholt partnerschaftlich verbundenen Länder veröffentlicht werden sollen. \ — In diesem Jahr soll auf Anregung des Integrationsrates der Stadt Bocholt ein internationales Kochbuch entstehen, in dem Geschichten und Gerichte der Gastarbeiter der ersten Stunde aber auch der mit Bocholt partnerschaftlich verbundenen Länder veröffentlicht werden sollen. "Bocholt kocht..., international!" ist dabei nur ein Arbeitstitel

*© Stadt Bocholt*

03. February 2022Integration Council

Dishes and stories: International cookbook in planning

Integration Council gives impetus // Search for guest workers of the "first hour" and descendants

The international cookbook that the Bocholt Integration Council wants to publish this year is about stories and dishes. "We want to remember the stories of the guest workers from the countries with which Germany had a recruitment agreement and at the same time draw attention to the typical dishes of the country, dishes and stories," says Bruno Wansing, integration officer of the city of Bocholt.

A specially formed working group will compile the book. Italy (1955), Spain and Greece (1960), Turkey (1961), Morocco and South Korea (1963), Portugal (1964), Tunisia (1965) and Yugoslavia (1968) are the countries with which Germany had concluded so-called recruitment agreements.

Twin towns and friendly countries

The countries with which Bocholt is connected in partnership and friendship should also be mentioned. These include Great Britain with its twin town Rossendale, Belgium with its twin town Bocholt, France with its twin town Aurillac as well as China (Wuxi), Lithuania (Akmene), Albania (Vlora) and the Dutch neighbors. "We already have some names in mind that we will address or have already addressed," says Petra Taubach, partnership officer of the city of Bocholt.

Of course, guest workers from the "first hour" or their descendants still live in Bocholt. "However, we are missing people who came to Bocholt as guest workers or whose descendants still live here, especially from Morocco, South Korea, Tunisia and also from the successor states of the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia)," adds Isabel Testroet from the Education and Culture Administration.

Cahide Klein, whose parents came to Bocholt from Turkey and who herself gives cooking classes at the Fabi, is also a member of the working group and is looking forward to the international cookbook. "We plan to print the recipes and the stories of people with international family and Bocholt history in German and in the respective national language," says Klein.

Contact via integration(at)bocholt(dot)de

Anyone who comes from one of the countries we are looking for, who is a descendant of a "guest worker of the first hour" and who is willing to tell from his or her story and would like to present a recipe typical of the country, can contact the integration office of the city of Bocholt at the central mail address of the integration office, integration(at)bocholt(dot)de, or by phone +49 2871 21765-612 or -611.

"This is a great project. If everyone cooperates vigorously and if many people agree to present their stories and recipes, then it will be a great thing," Juan Lopez Casanava, Chairman of the Integration Council, is sure.