President Truong Tan Sang has conferred the Friendship Medal on Samuel Christopher Russell, Country Director of the Vietnam Children’s Fund (VCF) in recognition of important contributions that Russell and the fund have made in giving access to education and training for people with disabilities in Vietnam for the past two decades.

Addressing a granting ceremony in Hanoi on April 15, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Association Vu Xuan Hong noted that since its presence in Vietnam in 1994, the fund has built 48 primary schools across the country, allowing 30,000 poor children to enjoy schooling.

With its projects reaching remote areas, the fund has assisted Vietnam , especially the project localities, in upgrading education infrastructure, he said.

As the VCF’s Country Director, Russell has exerted efforts to maintain the regular operation of the fund in Vietnam , even during tough times when the regional and international economic situation was gloomy, said Hong.

He also expressed his hope that Russell and VCF will continue expanding activities in Vietnam , supporting the national socio-economic development of the country, and strengthening the friendship and solidarity between Vietnamese people and people in the rest of the world.

Describing the medal as his honour, Russell said it has been his happiness over the past 20 years to work for the construction of new schools for Vietnamese children.

In the future, he and the VCF will continue working hard for the target of building more new schools in Vietnam, he said.-VNA