LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the U.S.-trained economist who shined shoes as a poor youngster, has pledged to donate $18,000 from his own pocket to help educate the children of poor shoeshiners.

"I have decided, as a gesture of my gratitude for my first colleagues, to donate $18,000 as a seed ... for scholarships for shoeshiners' children," Toledo said during a lunch with shoeshiners at the presidential palace.

Toledo, whose rag-to-riches story and mixed Andean Indian heritage set him apart from other politicians in this Andean nation, has said he can identify with the problems of poor Peruvians, more than half of whom live on $1.25 or less a day.

Born in an dirt-poor mountain village, Toledo herded cattle and later shined shoes when his family moved to the city. He left that behind when he went to study at Stanford University in California.

But the economist has run into problems since he took office last year as his popularity has dipped to around 15 percent on complaints he hasn't delivered on campaign pledges.

Toledo was also criticized last year after word got out that he was paid $18,000 a month -- far more than some of his regional peers. Facing widespread rancour, he scaled his salary back to $12,000 a month.

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