Welsh teacher to be honoured at National Eisteddfod

Leader Live

3 days ago

The National Eisteddfod gets under way in Wrexham today (Saturday, August 2) and runs until August 9.
Clare Vaughan will be inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards for her work to preserve and promote the Welsh language in Patagonia, Argentina.
Ms Vaughan has spent more than 20 years in Patagonia as project coordinator for the British Council's Welsh Language Project, which sends teachers from Wales to the Chubut Valley to promote the language in communities founded by Welsh settlers in 1865.
She said: "I was Head of Welsh with a secure job and everything was fine.
"Then in 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer.
"It was like a bombshell.
"I was very ill for about 18 months, and when I recovered, nothing felt the same.
"I knew I had to do something meaningful with the time I had left."
Ms Vaughan first travelled to Patagonia after seeing an advert for Welsh teachers.
She intended to stay for one year but ended up making the region her home.
She said: "I fell in love with the place very quickly.
"People there live for today, because they don't know what tomorrow will bring.
"After everything I'd been through, that way of living just made sense to me."
When she arrived, many older residents still spoke Welsh as a first language.
However, generational changes and intermarriage meant fewer young people continued the tradition.
She said: "When I first arrived, many people still spoke Welsh as their first language and used it daily with family.
"But their children often didn't continue the tradition after marrying into other communities.
"Argentina is very cosmopolitan - a melting pot of immigrants - so we lost a generation of native Welsh speakers."
Since then, Welsh-medium primary schools have been established in Patagonia.
Some adults who learned Welsh later in life have also become teachers themselves.
Ms Vaughan continues to teach some adult classes online, but her main role is now coordinating Welsh language teaching across the region.
This involves supporting schools separated by vast distances, some are as much as 700 miles apart.
She said: "Thanks to WhatsApp, emails, and other technology, we stay connected and I try to ensure each school has the resources it needs.
"Every school faces unique conditions and serves different student groups, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach."
Ms Vaughan also works with educators in Wales and emphasised the importance of the British Council's Welsh Language Project, which brings teachers from Wales to Patagonia for 10-month placements.
Beyond her professional work, she is also involved in community life.
She hosts visitors and volunteers, supports events, takes part in eisteddfodau as a judge and competitor, and is active in choirs and recitation groups.
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Looking to the future, Ms Vaughan is hopeful about the challenges facing Welsh in Patagonia.
She said: "We're at a tipping point - 7,000 languages die each year worldwide.
"Nothing is certain. But Welsh people have tenacity.
"Since 1282, despite external pressures, they've kept the language and traditions alive.
"As long as there are Welsh people and Patagonians who care about their roots, the language will continue."
Ms Vaughan is one of several individuals from journalism, politics, the arts, and education who will be honoured at this year's Gorsedd.
As a second-language Welsh speaker who learned the language in school, she said the recognition is deeply meaningful.
She said: "When I read the email, I couldn't believe it.
"Half of me wanted to cry.
"I'm someone who learned Welsh at school - I didn't grow up speaking it at home - but I was brought up to feel Welsh, not English.
"Learning the language opened a new way of seeing the world.
"I always saw the Gorsedd as something for others.
"I'm dedicating this to all my students - past and present - who've shared this journey."
Ruth Cocks, director of British Council Wales, said: "We are so proud to see Clare honoured at this year's National Eisteddfod.
"Her dedication, warmth and determination have inspired generations of learners and teachers alike.
"Clare embodies the very heart of this project – not just teaching a language, but building community, connection, and cultural pride across continents – and embracing a new life adventure.
"The Welsh Language project is an incredible opportunity for teachers to contribute to cultural exchange and Welsh language learning in Patagonia.
"The programme continues to strengthen Wales' connections and offers participants a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
READ MORE:
Full list of the DWP benefits and pensions changes due this month
Ms Vaughan will be honoured at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham on Friday, August 8.
Applications for the 2026 Welsh Language Project are now open.
The deadline to apply is September 8.
Successful applicants will receive £750 per month, plus accommodation, travel, and health insurance.