Once-in-a-lifetime trip to Patagonia
DAFYDD Wyn Orritt, Gwenno Haf Hughes and Osian Wyn Parry Evans from Ysgol Brynrefail will be joining 24 other young people from across Wales on a once-ina-lifetime visit to Patagonia.
They will visit the Chubut region, which has strong connections with Wales, in October 2017.
The young people, who are all between 16 and 18 years old, will follow in the footsteps of around 200 other Urdd members who have visited the area since the Urdd and Mentrau Iaith Cymru organised the first visit in 2008.
They will have to raise £2,400 each and their fundraising efforts have already started. Dafydd, Gwenno and Osian will be looking for sponsorship and holding numerous fundraising events over the next few months to reach their target.
While in Patagonia, the group will spend two weeks participating in a number of activities such as visiting young children, teenagers and the elderly that speak Welsh, performing in concerts, competing in the Chubut Eisteddfod and doing voluntary work.
Lois Hedd, Urdd Denbigh Development Officer and one of the 2017 Patagonia visit leaders said: “We received a high number of entries from across Wales again this year and it was a hard task to choose only 25 of them. They have all started raising money and I’m sure they will think of many innovative ways to reach their target. In the past, the young people have reached their target in a number of ways such as sponsorship from local companies, organising sponsored walks, curry and quiz nights, concerts, fashion shows and even clogg dancing!”
Sioned Hughes, Urdd Chief Executive, added: “The Urdd are very proud of the experiences that we offer the young people of Wales – from the Eisteddfod to our residential centres, our national sport competitions to memorable overseas visits. This visit to Patagonia is the highlight of the Urdd’s international activities and we are very proud that we have worked with Mentrau Iaith Cymru offering this unique visit for the last 10 years. Congratulations to the 25 that have been chosen and good luck to them with the hard work of raising money over the next few months!”