Lenin Moreno is the current Special Envoy of the United Nations on Disability and Accessibility, having taken office in December 2013. Prior to being appointed to this position, he served as Ecuador’s Vice President from 2007 to 2013. He is paraplegic and one of the world’s very few disabled leaders. Due to his intimate knowledge of paralysis and the difficulties faced by disabled people, he demonstrated a high level of sensitivity to their needs and requirements. During his tenure in office, he enacted a number of progressive reforms aimed at enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. Moreno was born into a middle-class family and had a typical and happy childhood. He was an excellent student who developed into a successful professional. He also dabbled in politics and quickly established a name for himself in that field as well. His life changed forever when he was severely injured in a robbery cum shooting incident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He returned to politics following his recovery and was elected Vice President. He has received numerous awards for his bravery and his contribution to improving the lives of his country’s disabled citizens.
Childhood & Adolescence
Lenn Voltaire Moreno Garcés was born into a middle-class family on March 19, 1953, in Nuevo Rocafuerte, Orellana Province, Ecuador. Servio Tulio Moreno’s father was a professor who believed in assisting the less fortunate sections of society. As an educator, he worked tirelessly to integrate their town’s schools so that indigenous and mestizo children could learn together.
Lenin attended the Instituto Nacional Mejia (National Institute of Mejia) in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, before enrolling at the Colegio Nacional Sebastian Benalcazar (Sebastian Benalcazar National School).
He later attended the Universidad Central del Ecuador, where he earned a degree in public administration. He was an excellent student with an innate interest in human psychology. Additionally, he was a very principled young man.
Career of Lenin
He was appointed Director of the Continental Professional Training Center in 1976. He was a diligent and ambitious individual who quickly established a successful career.
He then served as director of OMC Publigerencia Andina, sales manager of Satho, and marketing manager of Zitro over the next few years.
His success in business fueled his political ambitions, and he quickly transitioned to the public sector. He began his career in the public sector by working in an administrative capacity for the Minister of Government.
He eventually worked in the public tourism sector, where he founded the Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha and served as Executive Director of the National Federation of Tourism Chambers and the Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha.
He was shot in the back in January 1998 by gunmen who stole his car and money. He sustained serious injuries and was rendered paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting.
He was bedridden and on the verge of depression for several years. However, being the resilient soul he was, he turned to laughter therapy and gradually began to recover from the shooting’s physical and psychological trauma.
He eventually acquired a wheelchair and was able to resume his work as a public servant. Lenin Moreno was elected Vice President of Ecuador in January 2007. Assuming office during a time when Ecuador’s disabled were treated as outcasts, he vowed to do something to improve their lot.
He founded the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission for the Disabled, which assists thousands of disabled Ecuadorians with rehabilitation, technical assistance, and psychological support. The mission eventually expanded to neighboring countries such as Paraguay, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador, and Colombia. In May 2013, his tenure as Vice President came to an end.
In December 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed him Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility.
As a firm believer in the power of humor and the role that laughter and joy can play in assisting a person in coping with physical and emotional illnesses, he has authored several books on humor theory.
Several of his books on the theory of humor include ‘Filosofia para la vida y el trabajo’ (Philosophy for Life and Work), ‘Teora y Práctica del Humor’ (Theory and Practice of Comedy), ‘Ser Feliz es Fácil y Divertido’ (Being Happy is Easy and Fun), ‘Los Mejores Chistes de (Humor of the Famous).
Awards and Accomplishments
While serving as Ecuador’s Vice President, he was awarded the Order of the Sun of Peru in the rank of Grand Cross by the Peruvian government. Established in 1821, the award is the Americas’ oldest civilian honor.
He has also received numerous Honoris Causa awards, most notably from the Universidad de las Americas, the Universidad Tecnica del Norte del Ecuador, and the Universidad San Martin de Colombia (San Martin University of Colombia).
He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for his “Ecuador sin barreras” (Ecuador Without Barriers) projects, the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission, and the government policies he promoted to improve the lives of disabled people. The European Union ultimately received the award.
Personal History and Legacies
Lenin Moreno is a married man who is the father of three daughters. After being paralyzed in a shooting incident, he turned to laughter therapy. He eventually founded the “Eventa” foundation to promote humor and laughter as a means of self-healing following a debilitating incident.
Estimated Net Worth
Lenin is one of the wealthiest politicians and is ranked among the most popular. Lenin Moreno’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.