Tasting a new (food-)horizon – German-Finnish eating cultures Erasmus Project

Project Title

Tasting a new (food-)horizon – German-Finnish eating cultures

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Creativity and culture; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

In the Erasmus + project “Über den Tellerrand schauen – deutsch-finnische Essenskulturen” (“Thinking outside the box – German-Finnish food cultures”), German schoolchildren were able to gain an in-depth look at the culture of their host country during their visit to Finland. In particular on an everyday, catchy topic – such as food – different perspectives and practices of another culture became visible. Not only did the pupils gain an insight into the culture of their host country ‘over the meal’, but also in everyday life in their host families or in the Finnish school as well as during the excursions in Finland supported by observation missions. In this way, a deeper understanding of both one’s own ideas and those of another country could be generated.
Despite the difficult conditions, it became clear that the visit to Finland led to an intensive exchange between the pupils, even after the visit.
In particular, seasonal food traditions and related festivals and traditions have repeatedly been the reason for intensive exchanges between German students and their Finnish partners.
The situation caused by the corona pandemic from March 2020 also had an impact on the Erasmus + project. So the return visit of the Finland-Swedish groups could not be carried out. In the course of this return visit and its follow-up, a cookbook was originally intended to be created from the jointly developed, translated and cooked / baked recipes of the German and Finnish students. After it became apparent that a visit to the Finns would not be possible during the project period, a digital cookbook was created, which was put together in the form of a presentation – similar to a book. Instead of direct contact between the students, the exchange was instead carried out digitally. The resulting digital cookbook is therefore the result of the difficult but fruitful exchange between Finnish-Swedish and German culture, which both sides are very proud of.
In addition, it turned out that the concept of a study trip – provided that no pandemic situation undermines the prerequisites for this – is very suitable for bringing schoolchildren into a mutual exchange. Because with a clear, given topic, there were always opportunities for discussion and the motivation for an everyday and catchy topic such as food was always high. Even if the return visit from the Finns did not take place, the concept as such was convincing. Even if a cookbook from the Finnish-German exchange has not yet (!) Been created, the concept as such was convincing. All in all, both project partners see the project “Über den Tellerrand schauen – deutsch-finnische Essenskulturen” (“Thinking outside the box – German-Finnish food cultures”) as very successful and sustainable.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 31331 Eur

Project Coordinator

Graf-Engelbert-Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Kimitonejdens skola