Young Italian from Mold wins Learners Medal

Francesca Sciarrillo: Photo: facebook.com/eisteddfodurddFrancesca Elena Sciarrillo from Mold has won the Learner Medal at the Cardiff and Vale Urdd Eisteddfod 2019. She was awarded the Medal at the main ceremony at the Urdd Eisteddfod today (Tuesday, May 28).

Francesca, 23, received an MA in English Literature in 2018, and is now a postgraduate apprentice in Marketing. From an all-Italian family, she is the only one who speaks Welsh.

She said: “I’m very proud to be Italian and Welsh - two beautiful countries! Learning Welsh has changed my life in many ways. It has opened doors for me to new books, new music, new politics and more importantly, new people, people who mean the world to me!”

She wins after a day of challenges, set to test the language, confidence and knowledge of the three finalists. These included doing a live interview with BBC Radio Cymru and speaking at a press conference in front of journalists and television cameras.

Congratulations also to Jack Wilson originally from Warrington, who is studying Chemistry, who was one of the two finalists.

The aim of the Learner Medal Competition is to reward an individual who is committed to learning Welsh and takes pride in their Welshness. It is awarded to an individual who demonstrates how they use the language on a day-to-day basis in college or work and socially as well as promoting and encouraging the Welsh language amongst others.

Source: Urdd

Publication date: 28 May 2019