'Biblioburro' Teaches Kids To Read In Colombia

'Biblioburro' Teaches Kids To Read In Colombia

Luis Soriano is a 38-year-old primary school teacher who spends his free time operating a mobile library from the backs of donkeys.

Soriano rides his "Biblioburro" with a bag full of more than a hundred books through "abandoned regions" in the Colombian state of Magdalena to reach thousands of children who don't or can't attend school. Soriano has helped more than 4,000 youngsters with their homework, geography and reading.

His work does not come without risk, CNN reports.

Soriano has spent nearly 4,000 hours riding his donkeys, and he's not traveled unscathed. In July 2008, he fractured his leg when he fell from one of the donkeys; in 2006, he was pounced on by bandits at a river crossing and tied to a tree when they found out he had no money. Despite these injuries, which left him with a limp, Soriano has no intention of slowing down.

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Soriano and his wife have also built the largest free library in Magdalena next to their home. You can read the full story about Soriano and his efforts to bring the joy of reading to rural Colombia at CNN.com.

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