Project Overview

The Ami Sylhoti Bangali Project is a two-year heritage programme led by Bangladesh Youth League (BYL) and delivered through the Centre for Youth and Community Development (CYCD). Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project aims to preserve, celebrate, and promote Sylhoti heritage, culture, language, traditions, and identity among current and future generations.

The project will engage children, young people, adults, elders, and wider communities across Luton, Bedford, Northampton, Milton Keynes, and St Albans through a programme of heritage activities, performances, workshops, exhibitions, culinary sessions, oral history collection, and the development of a Virtual Museum of Sylhoti Heritage.

Project Vision

To preserve and celebrate Sylhoti heritage by empowering communities to share their stories, traditions, language, music, dance, and culinary heritage, ensuring this unique heritage remains accessible and relevant for future generations.

Key Objectives

• Preserves Sylhoti heritage that is at risk of being lost.
• Engages people of all ages in heritage learning and participation.
• Promotes intergenerational learning and understanding.
• Strengthens community pride, identity, and belonging.
• Encourages wider public appreciation of Sylhoti heritage.
• Improves community cohesion through shared cultural experiences.
• Creates a lasting digital legacy through the Virtual Museum of Sylhoti Heritage.
• Develops volunteers and community leaders through active participation.