Lenin Moreno Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Lenin Moreno is world well-known political leader formerly affiliated with the PAIS Alliance party. Since December 2013, Lenin Moreno is the present United Nations Special Representative on Disability and Accessibility. He was Ecuador Vice President between 2007 and 2013 before being appointed to this position. Notably, Moreno was one of the very few disabled leaders in the world. He developed paraplegia in the cause of his career. 

Evidently, Lenin was compassionate towards the unique needs of disabled people due to his familiarity with paralysis. Far and large, he immensely knew the problems faced by persons with disabilities. During his time in office, he put into operation several progressive reforms aimed at the betterment of the living standards of the people who were visionary, hearing or physically impaired. 

Early life

On March 19, 1953, Lenin Voltaire Moreno Garcés was born. He was born in Nuevo Rocafuerte, Orellana Province, Ecuador. His family was a popular one. His father was named Servio Tulio Moreno. He was a professor, who believed in helping the less privileged people in the society. Being an educator, Lenin’s dad worked hard to improve the schools in his town as he wanted local children and mestizo children learn together. It was the coaching and mentorship from his father that helped build Lenin’s personality, and this much influenced his life later. 

Lenin went on to study at the ‘Instituto National Mejia’ (Mejia National Institute), in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. He then moved on to the ‘Colegio Nacional Sebastian Benalcazar’ (Sebastian Benalcazar National School). Soon after, Lenin went to the ‘Universidad Central del Ecuador’ (Central University of Ecuador). It was from there that he received a degree in public administration. Lenin was a kind and exceptional student. Lenin especially had shown an instinctive interest in getting to learn about the psychology and lifestyle of human beings. Also, he was a very honorable young gentleman.

Career

Lenin was a hardworking and ambitious man. At 23, he was selected as the Director of the ‘Continental Professional Training Centre’ in 1976. He soon established himself in a successful career. In the next small number of years, he worked as the Director of OMC Publigerencia Andina. He also became the sales manager of Satho and marketing manager of Zitro. For the duration of his initial years in the civic sector, he was in an administrative post with the Minister of Government. This achievement can significantly be attributed to his great commercial success. This success had a strong bearing on his political ambitions and stimulated the great networks he built, and soon he joined the public sector.

Lenin founded the Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha ultimately when he went on to work in the public tourism industry and during his career; he served as the Executive Director of the National Federation of Tourism Chambers and Executive Director of the Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha. He was grievously injured in the shooting and was paralyzed from the waist down. This incident happened in January 1998 when he was shot in the back by gunmen who stole his car and money. Lenin was bedridden and was on the verge of depression for several years. However, being a resilient soul, turned to laughter therapy.

Gradually, Lenin began to recover from the physical and psychological distress of the shooting. In January 2007, Lenin Moreno was elected the Vice President of Ecuador after he eventually started using a wheelchair and returned to his work as a public servant. Moreno vowed to do something for persons with disability. At the time he was assuming office, the disabled in Ecuador were treated as outcasts.

To offers rehab, procedural help, and psychosomatic support in no small number of disabled Ecuadorians, Lenin founded the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission for the Disabled. His term as the Vice President ended in May 2013. Over a period, his mission had spread to the neighboring countries of Paraguay, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador and Colombia. In December 2013, he then was appointed as Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Lenin took his time to author several books on the subject of humor. He was a firm believer in the power and importance of fun. He emphasized the role laughter and joy play to help a person deal with physical and emotional illnesses in his writings. 

Inspiringly, he wrote several books to explain the theory of humor. They are: ‘Humor de Los Famosos’ (Humor of the Famous) ‘Ser Feliz es Fácil y Divertido’ (Being Happy is Easy and Fun), ‘Filosofía para la Vida y el Trabajo’ (Philosophy for life and work). Other books are ‘Los Mejores Chistes del Mundo’ (World’s Best Jokes), ‘Teoría y Práctica del Humor’ (Theory and Practice of Comedy). His books are still on bookshelves. These books have played a prominent role in therapy to the depressed masses.

Awards And Achievements

While Lenin was serving as the Vice President of Ecuador, The Government of Peru paid tribute to him with the 'Order of the Sun of Peru' in the rank of Grand Cross. The award is the oldest civilian award in the Americas which was first established in 1821. Other Honoris Causa awards are from University of the Americas, Technical University of Northern Ecuador) and the San Martin University of Colombia.

His projects, “Ecuador sin Barreras” (Ecuador without Barriers) projects, the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission promoted his nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize. Lenin also had the governmental policies he encouraged for the betterment of the lives of people with disabilities in 2012. The award was at the end given to The European Union (EU).

Personal life & legacy

Lenin Moreno married his wife, Rocio Gonzalez. The two have three daughters.

He developed paraplegia after the shooting incident. This occurrence made him take refuge in laughter therapy. In the quest to promote humor and laughter, he eventually formed the foundation “Eventa” as a way of a therapeutic process to oneself after an incapacitating happening.

Moreno enjoyed a healthy and happy childhood despite the fact that he was born into a middle-class family. He was an excellent student, and he went on to become a thriving proficient worker. At some point in his life he ventured into political affairs, and in this area, he built a reputation for himself. In a sudden turn of events, Lenin was injured in a burglary cum gunfire incident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. His life took a turn for the worse.

However, Lenin returned to politics after his recovery which was a clear indication of his ever resilient and courageous soul. Later, he was appointed as the Vice President of Ecuador. He made it his life responsibility to better the disabled citizens of his country. Lenin has received numerous awards for his bravery and for the role he played in improving the living standards of people.