Peace speaks every language…
This year, the Urdd’s Message of Peace and Goodwill focuses on Minority Languages. Its aim is to educate people around the world about these languages and to encourage them to value, learn, and use them. In doing so, the Message opens up a wider conversation about the role of language in empathy, equality, and our understanding of the world around us.
With over 7,000 languages across the world, and experts predicting that half of them will have disappeared by the end of the century, this clearly highlights the need for us to protect minority languages before they disappear forever.
The content and direction of this year’s message were decided by students from Wrexham University, Coleg Cambria, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd and members of the Urdd. The workshop was held at Wrexham University at the end of January.
Following the workshop the poet Marged Tudur created the words of the Message, with Sioned Evans (Smei) producing an animation of the words.
The Message is available in multiple languages, and you can also access an education pack written by Dr Ianto Gruffydd.