Efren Peñaflorida
Efren Peñaflorida | |
|---|---|
| Born | Efren Geronimo Peñaflorida Jr. March 5, 1981 |
| Nationality | CNN Hero of the Year |
Efren Geronimo Peñaflorida,
In March 2009, Peñaflorida was featured as a
Early life
Efren Peñaflorida was born the middle child of Efren Peñaflorida Sr., a
Peñaflorida completed his elementary and high school education through the help of scholarships and financial assistance, and received several class awards and honors.
Dynamic Teen Company
In 1997, at 16 years old, Peñaflorida started a youth group in his high school aimed at diverting students' attention away from street gangs, and towards community activism and personal development.[3] Joined by other classmates, they named the group Dynamic Teen Company.
Dynamic Teen Company started as a friendship club of around 20 members, with an aim of providing youth awareness projects, talent and self-development activities, and community services.[5] They collaborated with Club 8586, another community service organization operating in the area.
They eventually pioneered the idea of the "pushcart classroom", where pushcarts were stocked with school materials such as books, pens, tables, and chairs, and then used on Saturdays to recreate school settings in unconventional locations such as the cemetery or trash dump.[5]
CNN Hero
Peñaflorida was nominated for CNN Heroes by Club 8586, the youth group that financed his elementary and high school education.[6] After sifting through 9,000 nominees from over 100 countries, CNN's Blue Ribbon Panel selected Peñaflorida as one of its 28 heroes of 2009. On October 1, Peñaflorida was named among the ten finalists. On November 22, he was named CNN Hero of the Year for 2009.[6] The award includes $100,000 cash to continue his work with Dynamic Teen Company.[6]
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo conferred on Efren Peñaflorida the Order of Lakandula in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace upon his return to the Philippines.[7]
References
- ^ "Pushcart classes help break gang chain". CNN. May 9, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ "CNN honors Peñaflorida as modern day hero". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Founder". Dynamic Teen Company. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ "Philippines: World Vision congratulates CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida". World Vision International. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
- ^ a b Rochelle C. Pangilinan (September 24, 2009). "Efren Peñaflorida: An ordinary man doing extraordinary things". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on November 24, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
- ^ Philippine Star. November 23, 2009. Archived from the originalon January 4, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ "Arroyo confers Order of Lakandula on CNN Hero of the Year". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 27, 2009. Archived from the original on November 28, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.