Five ambitious young Dominican readers have etched their names into global record books after pulling off a historic feat: breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest stretch of continuous reading aloud, clocking in at more than 500 hours. In a celebratory ceremony held at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader personally welcomed the trailblazing team to honor their extraordinary accomplishment.
The group, consisting of Abril del Rosario Jiménez, Ismael Durán, Maikol Arias, Mayury Vélez and Franchesca Minier, spent 20 days and 20 hours on their record-breaking challenge. The marathon reading session kicked off on August 31 and wrapped up its final minutes on September 21, crossing the finish line far past the 500-hour milestone required to secure the title.
President Abinader opened the meeting by extending warm congratulations to the five young participants, highlighting the extraordinary dedication and relentless perseverance that brought them to their historic win. This recognition is not new for the team: Abinader first shared his praise shortly after the achievement was confirmed, posting on social platform X that the group’s hard work stands as a shining example of what young people across the country can achieve with commitment.
Joining the president for the ceremony was Carlos Valdez, the Dominican Minister of Youth. To reward the team’s achievement and support their future academic journeys, the national government awarded each of the five readers a full university scholarship along with a new personal laptop.
The five participants were selected for the challenge through a targeted process run by the Dominican Ministry of Education’s Directorate of Student Participation and Leadership, known locally by its acronym PLERD. Stakeholders in education and youth development expect the group’s groundbreaking accomplishment will send a powerful ripple effect across the Dominican Republic, inspiring more young people to cultivate consistent reading habits and embrace education as a transformative tool for both individual growth and national progress.