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A young woman learned to speak Welsh because she “lives in Wales”

Francesca Elena Sciarrillo, a former student at Bangor University and whose family lives in Mold , speaks Welsh fluently and was named the Urdd Eisteddfod ’s Welsh Learner of the Year.

The 23-year-old 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.”

(Image: Arwyn Roberts)

A marketing apprentice, she is the only member of her family who speaks Welsh but is keen for that to change.

Her boyfriend Harri Evans is Welsh speaking and from Caernarfon helps her to practice the language.

She said: “I spent four years studying English literature at Bangor University and I try to speak Welsh daily and hope soon to use it every day.

“It is an ever-changing language with many different dialects and idioms. I am picking up some Caernarfon sayings from Harri,” she said.

Although her parents are Italian, her father is from Rome and her mother from the Campo Basso region, Francesca speaks only a little Italian.

I speak Welsh much better,” she added.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

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

The other two finalists were Molly Evans who is in her final year at Chester University, studying a modern languages ​​degree and Jack Wilson, originally from Warrington, who is studying chemistry at Bangor University.

For the first time a new medal for younger learners was awarded.

The first recipient of the Bobi Jones Medal is Adam Williams from Magor, near Newport.

Welsh Language Minister Eluned Morgan visited the festival being staged this week in Cardiff Bay to see for herself the work of Wales’ largest youth movement and to meet the finalists.

She also announced a £4.3m boost to various organisations whose work is mainly through the Welsh language.

“As one born and raised in Cardiff I remember a point not that long ago when I thought I knew nearly everyone who spoke Welsh in the capital city.

“Now the situation is com-pletely different. More and more people are receiving their education through the medium of Welsh. It is incredible what has happened in the past few decades.

“The Welsh language is the winner here and it is great to have the Eisteddfod here in Cardiff.”

She said many of those visiting the festival this week are non-Welsh speaking.

“If we are to reach our aim of having one million Welsh speakers we must reach out to this sector,” she said.