Y Fari Lwyd Resource Pack
Click here for a downlodable PDF: Y Fari Lwyd – pecyn adnoddau
Song Writing Workshop
At the end of September two Song Writing Workshops were held on Zoom for children and young people living in the Bala area with Osian Williams and Branwen Haf Williams (Candelas Siddi, Blodau Papur). In the morning Lili, Lia and Sara composed a song about themselves called “LILI, LIA, SARA” and in the afternoon, Aiesha, Nel, Efa, Alys, Lewys, Gwion and Malena composed a song called “BWRLWM TAWELWCH ”. The next step was for everyone to receive a background track of the tune and a copy of the words from Osian; they then taped themselves singing on Voice Notes on their phone while playing the music on their computer, and sent it to him. Osian then set the vocals on a finished backing track … and here are the results …
Congratulations to everyone for creating such wonderful songs.
https://soundcloud.com/user-9…/bwrlwm-tawelwch/s-bMeWIfdP7FY
https://soundcloud.com/user-908…/lili-lia-sara/s-mg3vLi4THmx
Workshops for Early Years Employees.
In partnership with Welsh for Children, Hunaniaith has been running workshops to equip staff and providers of early years’ activities to persuade parents, who they will meet in their work, of the benefits of introducing the Welsh language from the outset.
The workshops consist of 2 elements:
- Discussions based on stereotypical and contemporary images relevant to the Welsh language, led by Hunaniaith officers
- A presentation by Welsh for Children’s programme manager about the benefits of raising children with the Welsh language, and multilingualism, plus suggestions on how to implement it
There is sometimes an additional presentation such as Gwynedd Council / Flying Start on children’s development and language acquisition in general: information which attendees found useful and easy to incorporate as messages about children’s ability to acquire Welsh with other languages.
Workshop attendees have undoubtedly expressed a high level of satisfaction and willingness to adapt their service to reflect the messages they have received at the workshops.
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Family Activities
For many years Hunaniaith has organised activities for the family during half-term breaks throughout the county. An example of this is Legends in which the story of the 2 dragons was shared by Gwyn Edwards in Craflwyn. Leisa Mererid then led us into the world of faeries in Pantperthog, and recited Bendigeidfran’s legend at Harlech. Meirion MacIntyre Huws told the story of Rhys and Meinir at Clynnog Fawr, and the film Eldra, was shown at the Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn. As well as hearing stories, the children and their adults had an opportunity to create art… such as poems, illustration, dragons pens and fairy ears!
Another example is The Yoga Tree led by Leisa Mererid, who adapted her book of the same title to include yoga movements in a story relating to the various creatures of the forest. Hunaniaith provided glorious hand puppets of these creatures in order to enrich the experience for families in Bangor, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llanberis, Nefyn, Y Groeslon and Parc, as well as pictures to colour at the end of a session.
Click on the following link for an example of family activites in Tywyn, led by artist Menna Thomas and singer / story-teller Mair Tomos Ifans:
Art and Craft Workshops for Children
Language maping in both Abersoch and Tywyn demonstrated that Welsh-medium out-of-school activities for children were scarce. In response, art and craft activities were commissioned in each community. Elan Rhys led an art workshops and Bethan Roberts, Oriel Pwlldefaid, Pwllheli craft workshops in Tywyn and Abersoch resectively.
Elan visited Ysgol Pen y Bryn weekly basis to lead 6 sessions for children aged 8+. Each session focused on a different medium and technique to interpret the land and the sea, as themes which were means to learn the Welsh names of trees and plants. At the end of the projedt an exhibition of the children’s work was staged.
Bethan led the after-school craft sessions in Abersoch for the village children and also those from Llanengan, Llangian, Llanbedrog and Mynytho. Sessions were held using various media and techniques including pottery painting, mosaic work, jewellery making and glass painting. 18 children enrolled to attend the first session. The activity increased in popularity with 24 attending by the end of term.
The majority of children in both communities came from families where Welsh was not spoken, but all were fully bilingual due to the Gwynedd Education Language Policy. Welsh was set as the language norm in both projects and the children were observed to use the language among themselves without supervision or encouragement. Both projects were used to share positive messages about being multilingual artists.
Dolgellau Entertainment Movement
With the support of Delyth Medi Jones, a Welsh teacher at Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, a group of 7, Year 10 Welsh Bac pupils came together to form MAD, the Dolgellau Entertainment Movement, whose aim was organising activities to increase the social use of the Welsh language among the town’s youth.
An Occasional Cinema and Beat-Box Workshops were held, but MAD is mostly remembered for its gigs.
In partnership with Meirionnydd Young Farmers, big names of the Welsh Rock Scene came to the Golf Club and Tŷ Siamas to entertain hundreds of young people from Dolgellau and the surrounding area, on a regular basis between 2015 and 2018.
2 Generation Project
Sessions led by Ffion Dafis were held to bring together young people and old people, in order to discuss and share the timeless elements of adolescence.
By visiting Cefn Rhodyn residential home in Dolgellau, 14 adults who expressed an interest in sharing their stories, were identified. The following day, at Ysgol Bro Idris, 6, Year 11 pupils were led into discussions about old age and the elderly. Both parties then came together for a chat over a cup of tea and cake at Cefn Rodyn, and an enjoyable session was had by all.
To conclude, a de-briefing session was held with the young people after they returned to school, and feedback was sought from the home. There was a positive response to the experience with the elderly, the home staff, and the young people wishing to continue the contact.
A request to share both information and resources regarding the project was received from the Intergenerational Co-ordinator: Gwynedd Council’s Well-being Unit in order to replicate the experience with Llandrillo Menai Group students.
Creative Industries Conference
Hunaniaith undertakes activities to raise young people’s awareness of the importance of Welsh as a skill for work and career. Working with Sgiliaith, Llandrillo Menai Group and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, enabled Hunaniaith to engage with 50 students aged 16 + who were studying the creative industries, to discuss the benefits of the Welsh language within the sector.
Following a morning of exploring personal and national values using the MEEE Values Cards, there were master classes with professional artists and production team members, namely, Ffion Dafis, Fflur Medi, Meilir Rhys Williams, Lisa Jên, Dic Ben, Anna Fon, Manon August, Mari Gwent, Mirain Fflur; and Cliff & Manon from Rownd a Rownd, sharing their experiences of how speaking Welsh is beneficial in their career-“The fact is that I, by being able to speak 2 languages, am able to make the most of twice as many opportunities” said Tudur Owen, who also shared his experiences with the students.
There was a very positive response to the day with students and contributors both enjoying and benefiting from the experience . “Speaking Welsh has more benefits than I realised.“, “The speakers gave us important information and helped me think about what I want to do.”, “Being bilingual can help me find work”.
Click on the following link for an interview with Huw Gwynant: one of the resources in our Language Awareness Pack for young people:
The Welsh £
During consultations with Dolgellau residents, a desire for the Welsh language to be more visible among shops and businesses in the town, was expressed. As a result, a campaign was launched to raise awareness of the advantages of Welsh in business in the form of a maths project, with secondary pupils at Ysgol Bro Idris conducting a language assessment questionnaire amongst local businesses. After collating and deciphering the data, it was decided whether the business was worthy of a Welsh £ sticker to be placed in their window – as an indicator that they can provide a Welsh language service, that Welsh is visible and / or that there are positive attitudes and a desire to learn and use the Welsh language. A simple translation service was also offered by pupils on the basis of the responses, as a follow-up. The campaign was lauched by Liz Saville-Roberts; and it succeeded to stimulate a favourable change. The project was later implemented in Tywyn, following the same format.
Raising awareness of the Welsh language and Welsh heritage with businesses in Gwynedd towns.
Each year Hunaniaith works with businesses in Gwynedd to raise awareness of the Welsh language and Welsh heritage by highlighting events in the calendar that are distinctly Welsh.
St Dwynwen’s Day and St David’s Day have been much more visual in the towns of Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Pwllheli and Tywyn in recent years through the intervention of Hunaniaith and the co-operation of partners in those communities.
Working together with the Dolgellau Business Group, Parêd Dewi Sant Pwllheli, Caru Port and Tywyn Town Council, popular window decorating competitions were held in each community to celebrate both Welsh saints. The competitions are now an integral part of these community partners’ annual programmes, and are welcomed by businesses as an opportunity to add colour and fun to the towns’ shopping streets during the quiet winter period.
In 2020 the town of Bala joined in the celebrations.
Hunaniaith take this opportunity to discuss the advantages of using Welsh in business, to offer advice and highlight opportunities for businesses to expand on the Welsh service they can offer customers.
Click on the following link for an example of good practice: Caffi Maes, Caernarfon:
Walks for Learners
Hunaniaith and Learn Welsh North West meet regularly to identify ways of supporting each other’s work. Walks for Welsh learners were seen to be a good means of giving learners the opportunity to practise their language skills and assimilate into Welsh-speaking communities. The work was given an additional dimension through collaboration with Anelu-Aim Higher: the Dyffryn Ogwen based outdoor activities business who wanted to expand their provision through the medium of Welsh.
During the summer and autumn 2019, 5 walks were arranged on different parts of the Eryri Slate Trail. The walks offered a moderate challenge to walkers, an opportunity for the guide to interpret the local history and landscape, and also an opportunity for confident speakers to converse with learners. Thus allowing Welsh learners to get to know and understand more about the slate quarrying communities’ rich heritage.
Welsh learners enjoyed all of the walks and noted that there was an extended period of conversation in Welsh with plenty of opportunities to change the conversation and the chating companion, which was a boost to their learning.
Another project in the Penllyn area was piloted jointly with Teithiau Dro Bach, with the aim of developing a guided walk service for Welsh learners which included 3 walks in the Bala area.
In addition to the upland walks, Hunaniaith organised more moderate walks with the support of the Dwyfor area tutor organiser from Learn Welsh.These walks were led by local volunteers with 2 walks on the Lôn Goed and another along the banks of Afon Dwyfor during the snowdrop season in early 2020. Also, another wonderful walk was led by Catrin Roberts within the Celtic Rainforest, in Meirionnydd.
Click on the following link for a video of our work with Anelu: