Cultures united: Intercultural dialogue in the Burlo retirement home

Cultures united: Intercultural dialogue in the Burlo retirement home

Things are happening at Haus Rosengarten in Borken: people from different cultures meet there twice a month to exchange ideas and learn from each other. This lively initiative was launched by the Red Cross integration agency in the Borken district and brings together women from Afghanistan, Tunisia, Syria and Lebanon who have been living in the region for a long time. The last dialogue took place recently and attracted nine committed participants who met through the DRK house “Advice for Immigrants”. Sara Jrab, the leader of the meetings, ensures that the discussions take place in a relaxed atmosphere and that everyone can have their say. According to Borkener Zeitung this is seen as a valuable opportunity to promote life between generations and to explore the shared values ​​of a new society.

What inspires these gatherings? The conversations revolve around the participants' lives, their childhood and youth as well as how they experience democracy in Germany. This creates lively stories and insights into cultural differences that are not only valuable for the participants, but also promote understanding for one another. Through the exchange, old photos and memories come to light, enabling a deeper connection to German history. The Rosengarten house itself is a residential community for people with dementia who are in need of care and is transformed into a place for intercultural learning through these meetings.

Integration through dialogue

The intercultural dialogue in Haus Rosengarten is part of the comprehensive mission of the integration agency in the Borken district, which is committed to the subsequent integration of people with an immigrant background. She works closely with institutions, social facilities and migrant organizations to promote integration in social spaces. The agency supports both groups and individuals and sells the civic engagement of immigrants. Anyone interested can find out more about the offers on the [Caritas Borken] website (https://www.caritas-borken.de/unsere-angebote/hilfen-fuer-menschen-mit-migrationsbackground/integrationsagentur/integrationsagentur).

Another goal is intercultural opening in social services and institutions. The empowerment of people with an immigrant background is the top priority here. By organizing information events and specialist days, current topics are to be addressed in order to create an exchange and contribute to improving integration. The integration agencies are supported by the Ministry for Children, Families, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

A song for exchange

A special highlight of the recent meetings in Haus Rosengarten was the joint tune in to folk and Christmas carols. Everyday carer Monika Hoppmann had prepared the texts, so the participants were able to sing in a convivial atmosphere and exchange ideas about the meaning of the songs. In such moments, music becomes an important medium that connects across cultural boundaries and promotes dialogue.

The ongoing dialogues in Haus Rosengarten are not only a sign of the diversity of cultures in our society, but also living proof of how important exchange between generations and cultures is. According to Rainer Geißler, author of an article on intercultural integration, this is a humane middle ground between assimilation and segregation - an approach that can also be experienced here in Borken.