Today, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol announces the names of 21 new ambassadors from secondary schools and a sixth form college across Wales. This year has seen a record number of schools applying to be part of the scheme since it began in 2020.
Since the launch of the scheme, Coleg Cymraeg has appointed over 50 school ambassadors to promote the benefits of Welsh-medium education in the universities amongst their classmates, and the impact has been positive in many ways.
The Coleg has benefited from the ambassadors' work in raising awareness and attracting young people to choose to study through the medium of Welsh. But the scheme also offers many opportunities for the ambassadors themselves. Tesni Hughes, who was a year 13 ambassador at Ysgol David Hughes, Anglesey last year, said the experience has opened doors for her.
Tesni said: "As well as developing my creative skills creating videos and blogs promoting the Coleg Cymraeg, I had the opportunity to do an Instagram Live of my gig. This was a completely new and exciting experience for me. Since this experience, I feel more confident performing and have been able to promote my music to a wideraudience on social media. I've also performed live on the Coleg Cymraeg stand at the National Eisteddfod in Ceredigion. Being an ambassador has given me incredible opportunities."
At the start of a new academic year, the 21 new school ambassadors will start their work this month and their main role will be to raise awareness of the benefits of Welsh-medium education beyond school, and about the importance of universal use of the Welsh language among young people.
For the first time this year Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, the first Welsh-medium school in Newport that recently opened its doors, applied to take part in the Ambassador Scheme. Efa Maher is in year 13 and as an ambassador she hopes to put Newport on the map:
For the first time this year Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, the first Welsh-medium school in Newport that recently opened its doors, applied to take part in the Ambassador Scheme. Efa Maher is in year 13 and as an ambassador she hopes to put Newport on the map and encourage more people from her area to choose to study through the medium of Welsh at university or college. Efa said:
"As an ambassador I will do my best to be a role model to reflect that anything is possible through the medium of Welsh. Next year I plan to study Mathematics at Cardiff University partly through the medium of Welsh and I'm happy that I will be able to continue to develop my Welsh skills at university and then use my bilingual skills in the workplace in the future. Also as a pupil at Newport's first Welsh secondary school, I want to reflect that culture, history and Welshness is important to us and I look forward to encouraging young people in the area to continue their studies through the medium of Welsh after they leave school."
As someone who was brought up in a non-Welsh speaking household, Aneirin Thomas, a sixth form student studying Music Technology at St. David's Catholic College, is looking forward to using his creativity and expanding his experiences as a Coleg Cymraeg ambassador: "The role is perfect for me as I will be able to spread awareness about Welsh educational opportunities using my creative, technological and musical skills. I look forward to starting my journey as an ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg."
The 2022-23 school ambassadors are:
- Elen Morlais Williams Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
- Hannah Williams Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
- Aneurin John Eddison Thomas Coleg Gatholig Dewi Sant
- Katrin Rosina Dean Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
- Magdalena Lacey-Hughes Ysgol Uwchradd Caerdydd
- Cerys Hulse Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari
- Arianwen Thomas Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari
- Efa Maher Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed
- Martha Haf Thomas Ysgol Bro Pedr
- Ifan Meredith Ysgol Bro Pedr
- Fflur Haf James Ysgol Bro Preseli
- Manon John Ysgol Bro Preseli
- Swyn Elfair Dafydd Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron
- Sophia Haden Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr
- Alice Mai Jewell Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr
- Carwyn Hardiman Ysgol Calon Cymru
- Elain Rhys Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn
- Enlli Llwyd Davies Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn
- Sara Mai Roberts Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni
- Cerys Elen Ysgol Uwchradd Dyffryn Ogwen
- Elliw Fflur Newsham Ysgol y Creuddyn
Follow us on social media to learn more about the ambassadors throughout the year:
Instagram: @dyddyfodoldi , Facebook and Twitter @colegcymraeg #llysgenhadonysgol23