YOUNGSTERS will have a chance to learn about the achievements of people of African heritage as a youth project celebrates Black History Month during its half-term holiday club.

Halliwell-based Harmony Youth Project will be promoting the contribution, achievements and heritage of black communities throughout its week long programme.

Charlie Barratt, project manager, said it was important to celebrate the special month.

He said: “We feel this is an important strand in our anti-racism work. Ignorance and lack of information provide a fertile context for the perpetuation of the exclusions, divisions, misunderstandings, stereotyping and discrimination of racism. In contrast, greater knowledge and awareness can change the way we look at our society, and of ourselves, and promote the growth of anti-racist communities.

“We feel that there is a need to share knowledge of our common human ancestry in Africa and of the continuous presence of black people in Britain for at least 500 years.

“This is something that we feel should be celebrated and taught to the children of today.”

Figures such as Mary Seacole, a nurse in the Crimea at the same time as Florence Nightingale, will be celebrated in an exhibition about the achievements of black people.

Mr Barratt said: “By celebrating Black History Month and displaying information about such historical figures, we hope to both catch the eye of the youth at our half term holiday club and also further their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of black people’s contribution to history through the years.”

The half term holiday club will be running from today to Friday and is for children aged eight-to-15-years-old.

A dance-a-thon fundraiser took place at the premises in Wordsworth Trading Estate, Wordsworth Street on Friday to raise money for the celebrations at Harmony.

Mr Barratt added: “I feel that Black History Month has always been a special event for Harmony, mainly because it is one of the only black led youth organisation in Bolton and from the board throughout the staff, volunteers and youth that access the projects.

“There is a strong black and ethnic minority core that runs right through this organisation and therefore an event like this is truly valued and needed.”