Have you or your children started learning Welsh recently?
If so, maybe you’ve used what has become an incredibly popular app?
Magi Ann a’i Ffrindiau (Magi Ann and her Friends) is a series of apps designed to help children and adults alike learn Welsh – put together by Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam and launched in late 2014.
They are now in the running for a national award, having made the shortlist for the Education Category in the 2017 National Lottery Awards.
The project reached the final shortlist after competing against more than 1,300 applicants across the United Kingdom.
More than 99,000 downloads
The apps, which tell the story of the character Magi Ann and her friends, have helped people throughout the world learn to read in Welsh, with the apps downloaded more than 99,000 times.
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There are six Magi Ann apps available to download for free, with more than 50 simple stories and games available for learners.
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “We’re very pleased to see this app make the final round of the National Lottery Awards.
“As in the aims set out by our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), we as a council want to do all we can to encourage more people, of any age, to take just a little more time out of their day to learn Welsh – and apps such as Magi Ann a’i Ffrindiau have proven incredibly popular in helping people to pick up Welsh during their day-to-day lives.
“We wish Menter Iaith every success, and hope Magi Ann takes the award.”
“Excited to reach the finals”
Gill Stephen, Chief Officer at Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam, said: “I’m excited that we have reached the finals of the National Lottery Awards out of 1,300 nominations – this is excellent news, and recognition of the importance of this work.
“These apps are important resources for children learning to read in Welsh, be they first language Welsh-speakers, or Welsh learners.
“There is an obvious demand for the apps in Wales, but we also know of families that are benefiting from using the apps across the world – from Japan to Patagonia, from America to Sweden!”
To vote for Magi Ann, visit http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/magi-ann
Or telephone 0844 836 9680 (this is the direct number to vote for Magi Ann – calls cost 5p).
Tweet/re-tweet: #NLAMagiAnn on Twitter.
Or visit the LotteryGoodCauses page on Facebook and vote by leaving a message with the hashtag #NLAMagiAnn
The deadline for votes is July 27.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/magi-ann”]VOTE NOW[/button]
