Hello Neighbor

We regularly organize neighborly evenings where refugees talk about their escape and their country and cook small regional dishes. All interested citizens of Velbert are invited to these evenings. Through the project, refugees volunteer as hosts, strengthen their self-confidence and present their skills.

In recent years we have organized various evenings about different countries, for example Guinea, China (Uyghuria, Tibet), Eritrea, Iraq and Kurdistan.

For example, Muharram Saypicken and Dickyi Dolma presented information about their Chinese regions of origin, Uighur and Tibet. They reported from their own experience about the hardships of the journey, the dangers and uncertainties they had to face during their escape. But not only did the lecture bring the guests closer to the unknown cultures, Dolma and Saypicken also served up delicacies from their home countries. They explained how to prepare the foreign dishes and then the guests were able to enjoy spicy Uighur soup, dumplings and Tibetan butter tea with salt.

The project “Hello Neighbor – Welcome Culture with a Difference” was awarded in 2015 in the nationwide Active for Democracy and Tolerance competition and first prize in the City of Velbert’s Integration Prize.