High-quality, culturally relevant, and diverse books in local languages are critical for improving literacy outcomes around the world. Yet, developing such content remains a complex challenge, particularly in low-resource contexts.
Literacy is a gateway to learning, but only when children have access to books they can understand and relate to.
Join the GBA and Early Learning Resource Network (ELRN) for a webinar, Developing Books that Children Want to Read, on July 15 at 10:00am ET. This webinar is part of an ongoing conversation on how to strengthen book ecosystems in underserved communities, strengthen local capacity, and ensure every child has the opportunity to read in the language they understand. The speakers will explore how publishers, literacy experts, and education stakeholders are navigating challenges, with a focus on content development in the African context. The webinar will feature real-world perspectives from the publishing sector, drawing on examples of successful collaboration, content testing, and practical frameworks that support inclusive book development.
Meet our speakers below:
Dr Jeongmin Lee
Dr. Jeongmin Lee is an educational researcher and policy advisor committed to driving practical impact through actionable evidence. With 19 years of experience in teaching, research, and policy, she has led interdisciplinary projects to support underprivileged children’s school success in Africa, Asia, and Central America, securing $7.7 million in funding from federal agencies and private foundations. Her work focuses on strengthening teacher effectiveness and support systems, including principal leadership and parent collaboration, to advance student learning in literacy and social-emotional skills. She mentors early-career scholars and collaborates with ministries, international organizations, philanthropies, and universities to turn evidence into collective action.
Jeongmin recently led a research project in Rwanda examining children’s book preferences and reading motivations, resulting in a published study. Despite limited access to books, children expressed a strong desire to read and clearly articulated the kinds of content they seek, from science and biographies to fiction, world cultures, emotional comfort, and identity-affirming stories. Their motivations extend beyond academic achievement to include aspiration, identity formation, and emotional wellbeing.
This raises an important question for the international education community: How can we better design and distribute books that children genuinely want to read?
During the webinar, Jeongmin will share insights from the study and facilitate a dialogue around this question.
Dr Catherine A Honeyman
Dr. Catherine Honeyman is an expert in education quality, early literacy, soft skills development, youth employment, and entrepreneurship. She has 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 Country Director for Rwanda at Laterite, a research and data analytics consulting firm focusing on education, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods. Dr. Honeyman also manages a community library and social enterprise, Bombo Books, in her Kigali neighborhood. Formerly, she was 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. She also previously 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.
Cyprien Bunani
Mr Cyprien Bunani is an education and research expert with more than 10 years of experience implementing research and education large-scale programs in Rwanda. Currently Cyprien Bunani is the CEO and Founder of Education Development consult (www.ed-consult.org) which provides expertise in Research and Evaluation, Development of Teaching and Learning Materials including books and publications, Education Technology, Curriculum Development and Teacher Capacity Building. Previously Cyprien was an Education Specialist at Right To Play Rwanda, School Leadership Specialist at Chemonics/ USAID Soma Umenye Project, Country Director at Eneza Education implementing MasterCard Foundation funded –SMS Based Learning Programme and the Literacy Boost Coordinator at World Vision International. In addition to that Cyprien has led the process of writing more than 100 books for children in Kinyarwanda, English and French which were approved by Rwanda Basic Education Board(REB) to be used in schools. Cyprien Bunani has Master’s degree in education from Mount Kenya University and currently writing his PhD thesis in Early Childhood Education from Open University of Tanzania.
Do not miss this opportunity to learn from the top voices in the field!