Episode 50 | Catherine Honeyman on Transforming Lives Through Literacy: Why Kids Need Skills, Not Just School

Note from Catherine:

• Due to employee ethics rules, I could not accept the gift offer mentioned in the video, although I appreciate it greatly and it has made me think more about how to add digital resources to the library.
• I misspoke in the interview--100 Rwandan francs is about $0.07 US cents, not $0.70.

Summary

In this episode of the Business of Education, Kyle Wallgren speaks with Dr. Catherine A. Honeyman, a global expert in education and literacy. They discuss the transformative power of literacy, the establishment of Bombo Books as a community library in Rwanda, and the importance of early literacy in fostering empathy and social change. The conversation also touches on youth entrepreneurship and the challenges faced in various countries, highlighting the need for sustainable educational initiatives.

Takeaways

• Literacy is a powerful tool for social transformation.
• Early literacy can significantly impact communities and families.
• Creating a culture of reading at home is essential for children's development.
• Bombo Books aims to make reading accessible and enjoyable for children.
• Community engagement is crucial for the success of educational initiatives.
• Literacy fosters empathy and understanding among individuals.
• Youth entrepreneurship can thrive in impoverished areas due to necessity.
• The joy of reading can have a lasting impact on children's lives.
• Sustainable community libraries can be developed through social enterprises.
• Education should adapt to the needs of the community to be effective.

Sound Bites

"What does it mean to be a human being?"
"The value that I give to books is not just me."
"Reading can pass on joy to kids."
"We need to make sure that we don't lose that joy."
"Can you create a self-sustaining community library?"
"Literacy changes lives 100%."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Literacy and Education
01:13 The Journey into Education and Literacy
04:54 The Impact of Early Literacy on Communities
09:15 Bombo Books: A Community Library Initiative
15:06 Community Engagement and Growth of Bombo Books
22:15 Youth Entrepreneurship and Global Challenges

About Catherine

Dr. Catherine Honeyman is an expert in education quality, early literacy, soft skills development, youth employment, and entrepreneurship with experience leading research and policy analysis, monitoring & evaluation, and providing project implementation technical assistance in a variety of developing country contexts, including Rwanda, Colombia, Honduras, Pakistan, Algeria, Iraq, and El Salvador. She is currently the Senior Education Specialist and Youth Advisor at USAID Rwanda, supporting the technical quality of programming in early learning and youth workforce development, including the activities Tunoze Gusoma, Uburezi Iwacu, Ibitabo Kuri Twese, and Hanga Akazi. Formerly, she led youth workforce development for the NGO World Learning, was Managing Director of the Rwanda-based Ishya Consulting, and held a Senior Fellow appointment at the Duke Center for International Development, Duke University. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and Kinyarwanda.

Connect with Catherine

Linkedin: Catherine Honeyman, Phd