Meet Steffan, a Year 9 student from Carryduff, Northern Ireland. Located just 5 miles from Belfast, Steffan attends his local school in Carryduff, but he is also part of a very special group — one of the first pupils of Ysgol Sadwrn.
Steffan’s decision to join Ysgol Sadwrn came from his desire to become more confident in Welsh. While his mam speaks Welsh at home, Steffan often responds in English, so he wanted to improve his skills. “Ysgol Sadwrn helps me improve my Welsh,” he explains.
For Steffan, Welsh is more than just a language; it’s a way to connect with his family. “Mam only speaks Welsh with me, and I have two cousins in Wales, Ioan and William, and family in Pontyberem,” Steffan shares. “I want to be able to speak with them in Welsh.”
One of Steffan’s favourite parts of Ysgol Sadwrn is meeting other children from all over the world who speak Welsh. “I can practise my Welsh, and I like the lessons and the teacher too. It’s fun!”
When Steffan is not at school, he enjoys playing Gaelic football and hurling with his brother. Both are part of the Carryduff GAC athletics team. Steffan also has a Welsh hero, footballer Gareth Bale, and he loves telling Welsh jokes. His favourite? “Which character from Frozen loses all the races? Olaf (Last)!”
Steffan’s journey at Ysgol Sadwrn is helping him strengthen his Welsh language skills and connect more deeply with his heritage. It’s clear that his love for his mam’s language and his family in Wales is a driving force behind his enthusiasm.
