Inspiring Projects are honoured at the Human Act Prize 2023. Photos courtesy of Human Act Prize

HÀ NỘI Outstanding projects, exceptional ideas and pioneering achievements contributing to the community were honoured at the awards ceremony of the Human Act Prize 2023.

Lê Quốc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhân Dân (People) Newspaper, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, and Head of the Organising Committee of the Award, Human Act Prize, initiated by Nhân Dân (People) Newspaper, said the awards aim is to support projects and initiatives with the potential for widespread impact and inspiration, as well as discover pioneering units that dare to take the first steps in finding sustainable development models that bring about transformative changes for an entire region or industry.

"Among nearly 130 entries are numerous individuals and organisations that quietly embarked on their journeys, some even several decades ago," he said.

“They have simultaneously worked, experimented, and made adjustments while pondering ways to improve their programmes/projects to become more systematic and professional, aiming to generate even more substantial impacts that bring about significant changes for a region or simply provide assistance to individual lives.

“It is their contemplation, unwavering belief, and passion that endlessly inspire us as the organisers of the award.”

The event took place at Hồ Gươm Opera House in Hà Nội on December 11.

The first Human Act Prize, with the theme Pioneering Imprint, not only honours but also accompanies, guides, and connects individuals and organisations who will shoulder the responsibility for the community in their journeys. The ultimate goal is to create transparency, scientificity, effectiveness, and humaneness in all community activities in Việt Nam.

Valuable community initiatives, ideas, and practical lessons from project models are stored in the Community Innovation Library for all interested individuals.

The most outstanding projects have been selected from the 35 entries that made it to the finals by the jury board. They were assessed according to five criteria that embody the values promoted by the award - Commitment, Sustainability, Impact, Replication and Innovation.

The Human Act Prize 2023 award categories include Community Ideas, Timely Projects, Prospective Projects, Resilient Projects, Inspiring Projects and Sustainable Projects.

In particular, the Human Act Prizes were awarded to five ideas with positive and sustainable contributions to the community.

They were Vinamilk Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (Vinamilk Joint Stock Company), Fund for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, For a Better Life (L'Oréal Vietnam), Mine Action to Address Post-War Consequences in Vietnam (Norwegian People's Aid - NPA Vietnam) and Transforming the Nature of Việt Nam’s Dairy Industry for Sustainable Development and Community Health (TH Group Joint Stock Company).

Founder of the Fund for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Phan Diễn, receives the Human Act Prize.

“I am very happy and grateful for this important and meaningful award,” said French-Vietnamese writer Isabelle Muller, initiator of the Loan Foundation who was honoured as one of the inspiring projects.

“Not only because it acknowledges our work across the country, but also because it sends an important signal. This underlines the importance of cohesion in our society. Especially nowadays, when there are often conflicts everywhere, it shows that we can persist in the community and overcome crises better.

“Besides the great motivation that such an award brings to our work, the LOAN Foundation gains worldwide attention through this award. I hope to get more donations for our educational projects in order to realise even more projects for the poorest children.”

The Gala of the Human Act Prize 2023 also featured the performances of many renowned artists such as diva Mỹ Linh, singer Mỹ Anh, rapper Hà Lê and violinist Trịnh Minh Hiền, among others.

Vietnamese diva Mỹ Linh performs at the award ceremony of the Human Act Prize 2023.

The Human Act Prize is an annual award organised by Nhân Dân Newspaper, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology and VCCorp Joint Stock Company.

In its first year of organisation, the Human Act Prize 2023 attracted entries from over 130 social projects. VNS