Smile of Hope’ celebrated Black History Month with anAfrican buffet dinner and entertainment at the Genting Casino in Bolton on October 31st. Supported by Bolton at Home, Forever Manchester and Bolton Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) The Smile Of Hope is a project that aims to raise awareness and promote integration and unification of diverse cultures and heritage. It works with Bolton College and the Willows Centre in Deane, teaching African arts and crafts and delivering dance sessions in Bolton schools – and aims to set up a Rainbow Carnival in Bolton next year. The event at Gentings was a well-attended and lively affair, with music and dancing and a young girl, Sophia, entertained everyone with a beautiful rendition of ‘Something inside so Strong’.
Founded by Maria Oprea, Smile of Hope raises funds raises funds for children in African countries and also in the UK, promoting community cohesion. Maria was inspired to set up the group four years ago by her teenage daughter Leyla, after a visit to Mozambique. She recalls asking children there what they most wanted – and the answer was ‘a pencil and a book’. On their next visit they hope they take people with specific skills to teach and help enable others to help themselves.