16 May 2020

Language masters graduate ready to work back in Solomons

7:22 pm on 16 May 2020

A Solomon Islander who has completed a Masters of Education in New Zealand is looking to utilise her skills back home.

Language masters graduate Leonora Houma hopes her journey will inspire young women in Solomon Islands to pursue higher education.

Language masters graduate Leonora Houma hopes her journey will inspire young women in Solomon Islands to pursue higher education. Photo: Leonora Houma

Leonora Houma, who completed her Masters at the University of Waikato, originally came to New Zealand with her family of three but her husband returned to the Solomons to fulfil a work contract.

This left Ms Houma studying, working part-time and raising their children on her own.

Now she is working full time at the Waikato Institute of Education but hopes there might be a chance to take her skills in language and literacy education back home where she said there is a shortage of such a skillset.

"I know there is a lot of need for my skills in the Solomons in particular. There aren't many people who have a masters in language and literacy education."

"One of the things I would like to do in the near future is, if there is a place for me, to utilise my skills....I would like to go and do it in the islands," Ms Houma said.