Former refugee elected new Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith
A former refugee, who was forced to flee Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) after a military coup, has been elected the new Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith (The Welsh Language Society).
Joseff Gnagbo has been elected as the new national Chair at the organisation’s annual general meeting in Caernarfon today (7 October).
Mr Gnagbo has been active within the organisation for several years as its International Officer and also within the Cardiff branch.
Since settling in Wales, he has learned Welsh and now provides Welsh lessons for asylum seekers and teaches Welsh in schools.
He has also spoken publicly about the importance of Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary, and the need to provide Welsh lessons for refugees.
Family
Addressing the meeting, he said that he felt part of the family of the Welsh language as well as the family of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, and that he was looking forward to leading as part of an effective and experienced team.
Mr Gnagbo said: “The work of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, from the campaign for our heartland communities to the campaign for the devolution of broadcasting powers to the Senedd, is an invaluable contribution to the future of the Welsh language.
“If the language is important to you, I would urge you to join Cymdeithas yr Iaith as the best way to ensure a strong future for the Welsh language.
“As someone who teaches Welsh to people in the Cardiff and Newport areas, I feel strongly that everyone from all walks of life should have access to the language. Cymdeithas yr Iaith offers an important solution in that respect in its campaign for Welsh-medium education for all.
“Following the disappointing white paper published recently, it is essential that the Government now strengthens the proposed Welsh Language Education Act and adds a target of Welsh-medium education for all, in order to ensure that in the future, all young people leave school confident in their Welsh language skills.”
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Wow 🤩 newyddion bendigedig 👌👋🏽
Saunders Lewis might not have envisioned this but Gwynfor certainly will be happy 😇…
Da iawn butt!!! 😀👍
Da iawn Joseff. You have achieved more than most English-speaking Welshmen/women who think learning the language is a complete waste of time. Thank you for the courtesy. Diolch.
Rwyn siwr byddai Gareth Miles yn hapus iawn I glywed hyn. I’m sure that Gareth Miles who died recently would have been delighted with this fabulous news. Llongyfarchiadau Joseff a great example of how multi-culturalism is positive.
I hope that those in the anti-Wales lobby who label Welsh language supporters as “exclusive”, “elitist” and “xenophobic” will take note of Joseff’s achievement.
But let’s stop talking about him as if he were some exotic pet, and wish him and Cymdeithas yr Iaith every success in their work.
No, let’s stop for a while and celebrate his appointment and do so long and loud as it makes the point that a migrant can adapt to the native language and culture and go on to be a key player in our efforts to defend and grow the use of the language, a battle that needs a lot more than occasional platitudes from the Bay regime. Seeing recent arrivals to these shores and other people raised in different cultures make the effort to become Welsh speaking is source of optimism in a country where the easy option of ignoring or… Read more »
Tell me again, Telegraph and it’s readers, how Welsh is too difficult for “foreigners” to speak and understand
D.T only understands the bigot variant of English. Everything else is beneath them cos they is foreign!