Gustavo Vallejo Larrea (Riobamba, 1905 – Quito, 1961), a journalist, poet, legislator, and advocate for education, founded the “Campaña Nacional de Alfabetización” (National Literacy Campaign) in 1948. As president of the National Union of Journalists (UNP), he led this movement, significantly reducing illiteracy rates across Ecuador for 17 years. His dedication, fueled by the belief in education’s pivotal role in national development, propelled the campaign to isolated areas, urban suburbs, and even prisons. Additionally, Vallejo played a significant role in shaping the 1945 Ecuadorian Constitution, contributing to its clarity and the articulation of progressive principles. Vallejo’s legacy continues, with a school in Quito named in his honor and a bust in Riobamba.
The Articulate Craftsmen of Ecuador’s 1945 Constitution
Gustavo Vallejo Larrea and Gabriel Cevallos García are given credit for their pivotal role in crafting the clear and eloquent language of the 1945 Ecuadorian Constitution. Their expertise ensured the document not only set out the legal framework but also eloquently expressed the nation’s ideals of justice, democracy, and human solidarity. Their contribution was crucial in making the Constitution a powerful reflection of Ecuador’s aspirations at the time, contributing to the Constitution’s clarity and the effective articulation of its principles.
Gustavo Vallejo Larrea’s Bust in Riobamba
Selected Works
- La cantera (Tip. y Enc. La Buena Prensa del Chimborazo, 1930)
- Poesia (Quito, 1971)
- Antología de poetas Riobambeños (Departamento de Educación Municipal y Cultura Popular, 1963) – an anthology of various poets from Riobamba, Ecuador.