© Stadt Bocholt, Bruno Wansing
At the end of the IHELP project, the participants came together to organise another intergenerational cooking event at the FABI

15. July 2025Integration Council

Intergenerational cooking at the end of IHELP

IHELP project comes to an end after five years // Intergenerational cooking will continue

At the end of the IHELP project on 30 June 2025, young people and senior citizens with and without an international family history met with the project participants in the multi-generational house of the family education centre to cook together.

The event was organised by jusina e.V. as part of the IHELP project in cooperation with the Family Education Centre (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 inspire volunteers to get involved.

Cooking together

The food was cooked under the guidance of Ataf Chaudhry and his wife Kanwal Chaudhry, who come from Pakistan and have lived in Bocholt for many years. Ataf 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 at discount stores. Our spices and dishes have long since become part of German food culture", says Chaudhry.

After a short round of introductions, the participants cooked together in four colourful groups. People of different generations from a wide variety of countries of origin - including Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Guinea, Afghanistan, Turkey and Germany - worked hand in hand.

Cross-generational cooperation and diversity

"In the kitchen, age doesn't matter - it's all about working together", said a delighted Susanne Rademacher from the family education centre. "Even if we already know some people, it's always nice to get to know new people, regardless of age," she explains.

It is clear that the event 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 puts 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, announced a continuation of the series: "Precisely because the exchange between young and old and also between people with and without an international family history is so important, we want to continue to offer the intergenerational cooking programme in the coming years".

The two project organisers Agnes Wellkamp and Judith Volmering are also delighted: "We would like to thank everyone who brought the project to life. Your commitment, your creativity and your reliability have made IHELP a real success - and brought Bocholt a little closer together".

Background to IHELP

Five years of IHELP - five years full of ideas, encounters and commitment. What began as a project has become a lively community of young and older people who have inspired, supported and strengthened each other.

The following cooperation partners were part of IHELP: jusina e.V. as the project sponsor, AKTION Mensch, Berufskolleg West and Berufskolleg am Wasserturm, Mariengymnasium and St.-Georg Gymnasium, IvM-Realschule and Gesamtschule Bocholt, FABI, NABU, L-i-A e.V., FW-Agentur Bocholt; KI Kreis Borken, Integrations- und Seniorenbüro Stadt Bocholt, Kardinal Diepenbrock Seniorenenrichtung and the moderator Raimund Stroick.