A chat with Merched y Wawr Merthyr

24 November 2022

Coleg y Cymoedd welcomes opportunities to develop links with local communities and links through the medium of Welsh. So the Welsh Language Team jumped at the chance to visit Merched y Wawr Merthyr to talk about the work of the College and to meet the members.

Merched y Wawr is a patriotic organization that offers women the opportunity to socialize in Welsh in clubs across Wales. They also campaign for the rights of the Welsh language and women’s rights. Merched y Wawr was founded in 1967 and now there are over 280 branches and clubs all over Wales. One of those lively clubs is Merched y Wawr Merthyr which meets every month at Canolfan Soar which is the town’s Welsh Language Centre.

On 9 November, Lois Roberts, Coleg y Cymoedd’s Welsh Language Manager, visited the group. After a short presentation over a cup of tea discussing her work at the College, giving information about the college and the opportunities available to people of all ages, in Welsh and English, she proceeded to hold an epic quiz with the crew .

As a way of thanking the College, Hannah Lowe, the branch’s treasurer, presented Lois with a cheque for £25 as a donation. The money will be given to a charity that the College has worked closely with recently, ‘The Wild and Free Foundation. The aim of the charity is to empower communities living around the national parks and wildlife reserves in Africa, by creating sporting and economic opportunities, to reduce their dependence on rhino poaching and African wildlife. The College’s School of Creative Industries collaborated with the charity to create a giant rhino as a mascot to encourage young men to turn to football rather than poaching. This money will go towards funding the amazing work they do.

Lois Roberts said, “We had lots of fun trying to guess the name of the town while looking at pictures of high streets, thinking of answers starting with ‘m’ and guessing how many times Americans open a fridge in an average day! ! The winners were ‘Tîm Tydful’ but I hope everyone left with a big smile on their faces. Thank you Merched y Wawr Merthyr!”