AVI receives Friendship Medal at Viet Nam 60th
25 January 2012
On behalf of the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Mr Vũ Xuân Hồng, President of Vietnam’s Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), honoured Australian Volunteers International (AVI) with the prestigious Friendship Medal at AVI’s celebration of 60 years of international volunteering in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 16 January.
Mr Hồng presented the medal in front of 80 guests, including the Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Allaster Cox, and representatives from AusAID, AusCham, ACIAR and the Vietnamese government.
Mr Hồng said The Friendship Medal was presented to AVI for the “achievement in assisting Viet Nam in developing Vietnamese human resources and economic integration, contributing to strengthening solidarity, friendship and cooperation between international organisations and Viet Nam.”
The 60th celebration in Viet Nam, jointly organised by AVI, VUFO and People’s Aid Coordination Committee (PACCOM), focused on the 380 AVI volunteers deployed to Viet Nam since 1985 as well as AVI’s beginnings, with the first international volunteer commencing in 1951.
The program included presentations by VUFO’s President, Mr. Vũ Xuân Hồng, AVI executive, Peter Britton, Ms Phạm Thanh Tâm from REACH (an AVI partner organisation), Mr Tuấn, a former trainee from Know One Teach One (KOTO) and current AVI volunteer, Anthony Lupi.
The highlight of the celebration was the numerous awards and recognitions that AVI and its Country Manager, Claude Potvin, received.
AVI’s Country Manager, Claude Potvin was awarded Viet Nam’s Peace and Friendship Medal “For peace and friendship between peoples.”
“I am honoured to receive such an award for my work in Viet Nam since 1994, including the past three with AVI,” said Claude.
“When she grows up, I know my Vietnamese daughter will be proud of her father who is now truly a ‘con rể Việt Nam’ (Viet Nam’s son-in-law).”
VUFO awarded AVI a Certificate of Contributions for its significant contributions to poverty reduction and development in Viet Nam.
REACH presented a Certificate of Appreciation for AVI’s generous support to their organisation and its work.
Photo: AVI Country Manager, Claude Potvin, receives Viet Nam's Peace and Friendship Medal from Mr. Vũ Xuân Hồng, VUFO President.
Watch the video below on AVI in Viet Nam
Read more about AVI’s program in Viet Nam
Find out about upcoming 60th celebrations