Vietnamese contributions to community in UK praised

As part of his speech at the event, Hoang Hai Ha, president of LOANI VNUK, said it had organised the award ceremony to mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III and the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the UK. This was done with a view to boosting the relationship and creating further prosperity and sustainable development to both nations.

She said that organisations and individuals nominated for the award are inspirational figures, entrepreneurs, young leaders, and young talents operating in fields ranging from education, health, culture, and art to volunteering, humanitarian activities, and community connectivity.

The Inspiring Global Leader of the Year award was given to Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World. The organisation is a British charity that supports surgeries for Vietnamese children suffering from congenital maxillofacial malformations, provides professional training for Vietnamese surgeons, and sponsors medical equipment and technology for remote medical examination and treatment for Vietnamese hospitals.

The Prestigious Organisation of the Year Award was given to the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in the UK and Northern Ireland, with this being an organisation that gathers together more than 100 professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers at more than 60 universities in the UK and Ireland.

Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, CEO of An Phu Pearl and Jewelry Company, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award due to her company supporting efforts to build bridges and houses, as well as offering gifts to people in disadvantaged areas across the country. The company has also participated in the project to build 200 libraries for schools across the nation.

The School of the Year Award was presented to Ark Oval Primary Academy (London) for its contributions to promoting the culture of minority communities, including organising a Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

The Star of the Year Award went to William Nguyen, a 13-year-old boy best known as a musical prodigy who has recorded many achievements in music and mathematics.

Several other awards were also given to those who have taken part in community support activities such as disaster relief, free medical examinations, treatment for the poor, and providing support for Vietnamese people during the pandemic.

LOANI VNUK is a member of London-based global LOANI founded by British African-American Professor Caroline Makaka back in 2017.  It focuses on activities to raise public awareness about equal rights of women and children, mental health, training young leaders, preserving Vietnamese culture, as well as helping children and elderly people in Vietnam, the UK, and Africa.