News | Tuesday, 25th July 2017
RECLAIM founder becomes honorary Doctor of Education
Ruth Ibegbuna called on graduates to be 'authentic, charismatic, disruptive' leaders
The founder and CEO of Manchester youth leadership charity RECLAIM hailed her award of an honorary degree by Manchester Metropolitan University as “one of the best days of my life”.
Ruth Ibegbuna became an honorary Doctor of Education (DEd) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the North West region through youth engagement projects.
She received the honour from Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University Malcolm Press at a graduation ceremony in Bridgewater Hall on 24th July.
RECLAIM focuses on working-class young people in Greater Manchester being seen, heard and leading change. It runs leadership programmes for 12-15 year olds, working with over 900 young people in working-class communities across Greater Manchester to end leadership inequality since opening its doors in 2007.
Prior to founding the charity, Ruth was a senior teacher in a South Manchester state school which obtained some of the best GCSE results in the country. It was fitting then, that Ruth received her degree alongside the next generation of educators from the Faculty of Education.
During her speech to the congregation, she contrasted the different expectations of her “amazing” pupils at her first two schools – Chetham’s School of Music - and another on the outskirts of Moss Side.
“My whole fight for social justice came from seeing how two sets of pupils, three miles apart, can be looked at so differently by society. No-one viewed those young people from Moss Side as potential leaders. But you will see, even in your primary classrooms, young people that can go on and change the world.”
Ruth has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Manchester since 2015, was named Manchester Peace Activist of the Year 2008 and received the Manchester City Council Women’s award for Outstanding Contribution 2009.
Last year, she was named by the Sunday Times as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK, and has been listed by Virgin and Ashoka as one of the top six female change makers internationally.
Despite these accolades, she has admitted to suffering to ‘imposter syndrome’ in the past, which she urged graduates to conquer.
“When you actually do believe that you are good enough and you get over your imposter syndrome, that's infectious and other people will buy into you if they can see that self-confidence.
“Sometimes you've just got to be the authentic, charismatic, disruptive leader you know you can be.”
She closed by relating her experiences of representing RECLAIM at funding meetings in London where she is often one of the few Northern, state-educated, women of colour present.
“At first I used to find that a daunting situation. But now I've learned that those spaces need diverse voices.
“So rather than leave those spaces and lose my confidence, I speak out and I'm even louder. I am holding that door open for more educators to join me. It can be lonely out there, and in a few years I'm hoping that some of you in this hall will be leading social change and ensuring all children have the outcomes they deserve.”
