NIK

Many people from the Middle East and North Africa come to Europe, to live and to work. That is not easy. Also 2nd and 3d generation children have problems with integration. Among these groups there are potential valuable workforces, where European population is getting older and shrinking. NIK speaks from Newcomers. To use this potential, integration is important. Integration includes the entry of young children in the educational system, with many challenges:- Language and culture of the host country- Different educational systems,- Lack of social contacts with neighbours or other representatives of the new country.- Growing separation and reducing tolerance.Contacts can be simply created via culinary activities. Multicultural cooking together with children, parents and teachers creates a better understanding. Modern materials such as an App will help. VET students will  present it in primary/secondary schools. VET image will improve and more

In general, NIK contributes to a better integration of Newcomers. NIK focuses on VET students and pupils from primary/secondary including teachers (and parents). Main objective - To develop learning material about food, both from host countries and from the Newcomers. Specific objectives - To give Newcomers a better knowledge of the language and culture of the European host countries, - To stimulate Newcomers to participate more in the educational system, including VET, and feel at home, - To contribute to a more attractive VET, with more participants, - To support the participation of Newcomers in the European labour market.

Outcomes

- Contribution to relevant strategy in national/regional approaches in integration of Newcomers,
- Developed earning materials, including culinary experiments in a multicultural context,
- Developed apps with cartoons/comics, games, quizzes, to be used in lessons“ Culinary aspects of two cultures”,
- (VET)- teachers are enthusiastic for the materials and use it as a result of national/regional multiplier events,
- Culinary country days/weeks are organised in combination with cultural activities.

Impact
In the participating countries, mainly Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Sweden, there will be a growing support for the integration of Newcomers.
National/regional authorities have updated their strategy documents and the educational staff from VET schools and training organisations has been trained in the use of the new developed content.
National Multiplier Events will lead to more interested schools.
A better image of VET, lead to more Newcomer participants and on the longer term, more qualified Newcomers will enter the labour market