Spanish grandson's doodles help grandma find phone numbers

Encarna Alés uses the illustrations to work out who's who in her phone book

A Spanish man has revealed how over the past 20 years he has helped his illiterate grandmother use her phone with the help of doodles.

Now 74, Encarna Alés left school at eight to work and never learnt to read or write.

She loves phoning friends and family but couldn't read the names next to the numbers in her address book.

Pedro Ortega started, aged 11, to draw pictures next to them so she could remember which number was which.

The illustrations have now gone viral on social media.

Mr Ortega illustrated every number with a picture for his grandmother

"One day, my dad and I went round to my grandparents' house to write down the numbers of friends for them," Mr Ortega, a communications specialist, told the BBC.

"But I realised this wouldn't help my grandma as she wouldn't understand the letters.

Encarna Alés' phonebook contains drawings for each of her neighbours

"On every page and for every number, I would draw a picture that she felt would identify the person she wanted to call.

"It was something we thought of together. She says something unique about every person and I draw it out for her. It's a system we've had for twenty years."

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His grandmother comes from Linares in the southern region of Andalusia.

"She's had a typical life for many working-class women of her era," Mr Ortega said.

"She was forced to leave school at the age of eight to go and work in a bakery to provide for her family, so she didn't get an education. She used to be paid in food for her family, rather than money.

"Women from her background lacked the opportunity to develop and educate themselves. The consequences of impoverishment can still be seen today."

Around 700,000 Spaniards can't read and write, a 2016 report from the Institute of National Statistics said. Of those who are illiterate, 400,000 are older than 70.

Mr Ortega developed a special bond with his grandmother through the drawings

"Every time I'm back home, I sit down and add new drawings for her," the 31-year-old said. "It's become something special between the two of us."