The world’s leading global 24-hour news network has revealed that 27-year-old Efren Peñaflorida has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. CNN's Anderson Cooper announced Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on November 21. The recognition highlights ordinary citizens from all over the world who have accomplished exemplary deeds.
In high school, Peñaflorida was often harassed by local gangs at his school in Cavite. Kids were left with little choice – they were usually forced into either joining the gangs or dropping out of school. But Peñaflorida was keen on completing his education. He never for once took for granted the fact that he was able to go to school when other kids from the same background as his did not have that opportunity.
When he was 16, he recruited three of his schoolmates to join him in teaching younger kids from the slums on Saturdays. This was how the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) started. After ten years, the group has grown to around 10,000 members who have tutored approximately 1,500 children in all. It has given children an access to education and an alternative to gangs.
Even though he now teaches at a local private school in Cavite City, Peñaflorida continues to join the DTC during their visits to the slums every Saturday. His unwavering commitment to education has contributed a great deal in his community.
Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast. The other top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Each of the top 10 Heroes receives $25,000.
