Winning the Welsh Learner award at the Welsh Refugee Council Nation of Sanctuary Awards 2024 has given one woman the confidence to continue learning the language. The award honours individuals for their contribution to or personal development in the Welsh language. Hlehle Mazwi, from South Africa, moved to Wales in 2019 and decided she wanted to learn more about the Welsh language.
In her native South Africa there are 11 official languages and Hlehle can speak, read and write confidently in eight of those languages.
Hlehle started learning Welsh two years ago, using Duolingo and the internet to learn basic words and phrases,
While studying at the University of South Wales, she would use Welsh when making presentations. Hlehle later followed ‘Croeso i Bawb’ courses, developed by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. The courses, which introduce Wales and the Welsh language, were held at the Oasis Centre, Cardiff. Hlehle said: “I’m very interested in languages. I speak my own language, my mother tongue, isiXhosa, therefore I know how valuable the Welsh language is to Wales. Culture, language, and heritage are very important to me. That’s why I wanted to learn Welsh. “I have such an interest and passion for the Welsh language, and I love talking to people about the language and showing my enthusiasm for it.” When Hlehle and her friends socialise, they try to learn new Welsh words together, and quiz each other in order to learn more about the language.
Hlehle enjoys watching sports programmes on S4C to help her learn. She uses TikTok to share and educate others about her language journey, and is also working on Welsh puzzle books. Winning the award was “a great feeling” and “gave me confidence to continue learning the language”, said Hlehle.
She said that living in Wales and learning the language has made her feel part of the community. Her aim in the future is to be able to speak and converse fluently in Welsh, and practise as much as possible with Welsh speakers.