World Vision congratulates CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida

2 December, 2:04 pm

Efren Peñaflorida paid it all back.

World Vision joins thousands of people around the world in rejoicing with Efren and the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) for winning the CNN Hero of the Year Award.

The award by the international news channel honours individuals from around the world who sacrifice their time and efforts in uplifting the less fortunate.

Efren, a school teacher from the Philippines was named first Pinoy CNN Hero for his inspiring commitment to help educate street children with his Kariton Klasrum (Classroom Cart) through the Dynamic Teen Company, a group he founded in the 1990s.

Out of over 9,000 nominees from across the world, Efren, a former World Vision sponsored child emerged the CNN Hero of 2009, garnering the most number of votes worldwide.

“Efren is a living testimony that investing in a child’s life to have a better future can have really big returns. May this serve as an encouragement for all of us, especially those who are working with children. He is proof that children can, indeed, change the world. He is a fine example of the change we all want to see.” said Elnora Avarientos, executive director of World Vision in the Philippines.

World Vision feels special affinity towards Efren since he was once a sponsored child under World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program – a program that currently sends over 3.1 million underprivileged children around the world to school.

“For us in World Vision, we are truly honored that Efren embodies the heart of our ministry. He is evidence that our work in World Vision is real - that each child transformed through the sacrificial giving of others can become a hero and start a movement of change this world desperately needs.” Avarientos added.

“Like when God sent the rainbow after the storm, I liken this to God’s promise of good things to come. In this hard times when many selfless Filipinos emerge as heroes in response to a call for action and sacrifice, it is affirming to all of us that such efforts are recognised and rewarded. The announcement by Anderson Cooper of the Blue Ribbon Panel’s decision gave Filipinos a breath of fresh air, a brief moment to cheer and celebrate, to be inspired all the more to get back to volunteering and to rebuild our nation.” Efren said when he first learned that he made it to CNN Top 10 Heroes.

As he puts it in his acceptance speech, “the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed… Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve… you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”