CNN hero – Filipino who spreads literacy with the help of his pushcart
Posted on March 22nd, 2009
Efren Peñaflorida didn’t have to do spectacular things. He didn’t jump from tall building or rescue a cat from the tree, but Efren, Filipino, received citation from international news agency CNN as a modern-day hero.
When he started his mission, Efren wasn’t thinking much of getting any recognition – much less from CNN. He just wanted to give back what he thought was given to him – education and hope for poor children.
With his pushcart loaded with crayons, books, pens, clothes, jugs of water, a blackboard and a Philippine flag, Efren would be seen at the public cemetery, market and dump in Cavite City where he, and a group of young volunteers, teach street children basic literacy skills and values to save them from illegal drugs and prevent them from joining gangs.
Efren’s advocacy was borne out of his own experience, being a victim of gangs when he was in high school. He knows by heart what poverty can do, and that is snatch children out of school and lead them to violence.
Efren’s group, Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) was formed by him and his classmates at Cavite National High School back in August 1997. It was a time when teenagers like him were being forced to join in gangs which gets involved in riots. He was only 16 then.
They formed the group as an alternative to the numerous teenager gangs. He said he and his friends “got the idea to divert teenager like us to be productive.â€
Initially, they were only bringing food for the children, but they soon realized that the problem was more than just empty stomachs and so they start to hold literacy classes every Saturday. They carry the books and blackboard with the help of a bike and a sidecar which the group bought.
They were able to raised funds from selling junks they collect.
But since the tires would always run flat and the chains fall off, the current DTD president then proposed to use a pushcart instead.
More than ten years later, Efren Peñaflorida, now a teacher in high school in nearby Bacoor town, still continues with his mission. And with more volunteers to help him, some of whom were former street children themselves who’s live were touched by Efren’s advocacy.
“you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be” were always Efren’s words to his volunteers.
I just saw ABS-CBN’s Kalye awhile back ang I must say that this Pinoy really is dedicated to make the Philippines a much better country. How I wish that all Filipino political leaders are serving like him. His shining love for the masses and his deep faith in God is unmatched by any other government nor church project. If he runs for office in the future, I would gladly campaign for this guy.
I hope that Filipinos would be challenged by the love this man, Efren and his team is showing by example. Pinoys, let’s be the change, as Efren calls to revolutionize our society.
Great person. He is one of the endorsers of Ako Mismo campaign for a better Philippines. He is the main reason why I was convinced to join the group. I really love what he does for the children of the Philippines. I just hope I can do the same. Very inspiring person indeed.
[...] spread literacy to poor Filipino children. And because of his noble and honest mission, he was featured as a modern-day hero by CNN early this [...]
[...] spread literacy to poor Filipino children. And because of his noble and honest mission, he was featured as a modern-day hero by CNN early this [...]