13 December 2002

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: The first United Nations Volunteers Honorary Ambassador awards were presented today to 10 outstanding students of Hoa Sua Vocational Training School for Disadvantaged Youth. Jordan Ryan, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, handed over the prizes during a ceremony held at the UNDP office in Hanoi.

This annual award, designed to encourage student excellence, was personally initiated by UNV Honorary Ambassador Takehito Nakata from Japan when he visited the School last August. "My humble contribution to these awards is one way to encourage these young people to study and to work for a better life, and push poverty a step behind" Ambassador Nakata said. The awards will be presented annually on the occasion of the UN-designated International Volunteer Day, 5 December.

The names of the winning students were announced on Teacher's Day, 20 November, which is also Hoa Sua annual reunion day. "I'm so happy when I found out I'm one of the students to receive the Ambassador Merit Awards," said student Cuong from the European Bakery class. "And I'm very proud to get it from the head of the United Nations in Viet Nam."

"Volunteers are a valued and necessary part of the development process. Their courage, commitment and contributions are often at the heart of a community's achievements and progress", said Mr. Ryan. "We very much appreciate the vision and generosity of Ambassador Nakata for initiating these awards, to recognize this contribution."

The Hoa Sua was established in April 1995 by a group of retired teachers. The purpose of the school is to provide vocational training opportunities in Asian and European cooking, catering, patisserie, baking, restaurant service, industrial sewing and small business management for disadvantaged youth in Hanoi. Over the last six years, more than 1,000 students have graduated from the school and been placed full time positions in businesses throughout Ha Noi. Hoa Sua is now expanding its activities to other local communities, not only in and around the capital but to other locations including Sa Pa and Hoi An.

The UN Volunteers in Viet Nam have actively supported Hoa Sua School over the past four years. The project has placed seven UN Volunteers to help improve the School management and administrative practices, adopt new training curriculum, staff and programme evaluation systems and the establishment of a multi-support network. The management of the School has also been further strengthened through specialized assignments under the UNV-administered UN Short-term Advisory Resources in financial management and marketing.