A teacher and the organization he began has just been recognized by the Cable News Network. I’m “copying-and-pasting” some paragraphs about him from CNN since they describe the project so well. I’m also including some links to some nice videos and text.

Efren Peñaflorida, who started a “pushcart classroom” in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom.

Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a schoo
l setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump.