Edward Danielraj Selvanayagam (L) is presented with the Friendship Medal (Photo: wvi.org) The Vietnamese President’s Friendship Medal has been presented to Edward Danielraj Selvanayagam, the former National Director of World Vision Vietnam (WVV), in recognition of his devotion to local poverty elimination efforts.
The Friendship Medal is awarded to foreign individuals or organisations that make significant contributions to establishing, strengthening or developing amity between Vietnam and other nations.
At the presentation ceremony in Hanoi on September 23, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan Hong appreciated Selvanayagam’s whole-hearted assistance to children from impoverished families and low-income people nationwide.
He has spent more than 20 years in Vietnam and contributed greatly to low-earner support through his position as WVV National Director through a number of comprehensive development programmes relating to area development, community-based disaster risk management, childcare and protection, human trafficking prevention and micro-finance, Hong noted.
Selvanayagam expressed his honour to receive the award, hoping the country’s partnership with the World Vision International (WVI), other international humanitarian organisations and donors would grow towards providing more aid for less-privileged children and communities.
The WVI is now carrying out 40 area development programmes and 16 projects in 15 provinces and cities across Vietnam. Combined aid supporting the country through the organisation has reached around 300 million USD over the last 25 years.-VNA
