Approaches to Strengthen Supply and Demand for Children’s Books in Rwanda

The initiative focuses on improving literacy outcomes, sustaining capacity strengthening for school leadership, promoting equity in literacy work, and sustaining improvements to the culture of reading. To achieve these objectives, Mureke Dusome has implemented various interventions, including training and mentorship programs for book sector actors. These programs have included workshops for writers, illustrators, designers, and publishers, as well as leveraging global partnerships to engage internationally recognized publishing sector actors. The initiative has also promoted home-grown mentorship and coaching by in-country first professional children's book editors. The training and mentorship programs have resulted in increased production of high-quality, age-appropriate, and more inclusive children's books. The initiative has also improved professionalism, motivation, and sustainable mechanisms among local publishing sector actors, as well as increased exposure to local and international markets. In addition to training and mentorship programs, Mureke Dusome has implemented various activities to stimulate demand for children's books. These activities have included meet and greet events, book exhibitions, book talks, campaigns, conferences, book fairs, national book exhibitions, and media collaborations. The initiative has also promoted the use of reading materials through the distribution of books to schools, reading clubs, and community libraries. The distribution of reading materials has been managed through a framework contract with local publishers, advance market commitments, and quality checks of received books. The initiative has established partnerships with local publishers, community booksellers, and book case sellers to increase access to children's books. The distribution of books has been targeted to schools, reading clubs, and community libraries, with a focus on increasing the availability of age-appropriate Kinyarwanda storybooks. Mureke Dusome has also implemented child safeguarding measures during the distribution process, including training book distributors on child safeguarding and avoiding the involvement of children in distribution activities. The initiative has also trained librarians on book use and management, conducting children's reading activities, and distributed Kinyarwanda storybooks to community libraries. Overall, Mureke Dusome has made significant progress in improving literacy outcomes, promoting equity in literacy work, and sustaining improvements to the culture of reading in Rwanda. The initiative has established partnerships with local publishers, community booksellers, and book case sellers to increase access to children's books, and has implemented child safeguarding measures during the distribution process.