Ysbyty Gwynedd pharmacy technician, Yankier Perez, is in the running to be crowned this year’s Welsh Learner of the Year at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff.
Yankier came to Wales from Cuba in 2011, to join his wife, Lowri, and the family lives in Llanrug. When he moved to Wales he decided to learn Welsh as the language is an important part of his local community.
When Yankier began working as a Pharmacy Technician at Ysbyty Gwynedd, he found that many patients welcomed him speaking Welsh, and this further encouraged Yankier to learn the language.
He says he has been lucky to have so many opportunities to speak Welsh with his family, in the community and at work, and is grateful to his colleagues for their support and for being so willing to listen and help when he began learning. He hopes to follow an academic Welsh course in the future.
Yankier is one of the semi-finalists who will compete for the Welsh Learner of the Year award during Eisteddfod week this year, which will be decided on Wednesday 8th August.
The winner receives a trophy, donated by School of Welsh, Cardiff University and £300 from Peter and Gill Griffiths, Pentyrch, Cardiff, and the other finalists will receive trophies donated by School of Welsh, Cardiff University.
Finalists will also receive a year’s subscription to the magazine, Golwg, and gifts from Merched y Wawr. The winner is invited to become a member of the Gorsedd.
This year’s adjudicators are Lowri Bunford Jones, Carole Bradley and Lowri Haf Cooke.
Pob Lwc Yankier!
