Co-founder of the Will to Live Center Nguyễn Thị Vân. — Photo VietnamPlus.vn

HÀ NỘI — Two Vietnamese women have been named among the BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women for 2019.

Conservationist Trang Nguyễn and co-founder of the Will to Live Center Nguyễn Thị Vân were honoured by the British public service broadcaster.

The annual list, which this year asks what the world would look like if it were ran by women, also includes American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, teen Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe.

Trang Nguyễn established conservation charity and non-governmental organisation WildAct in her home of Việt Nam, aiming to tackle the rampant illegal wildlife trade in the country.

Conservationist Trang Nguyễn. — VNS File Photo

The BBC quoted her as saying: “People need to put aside their prejudices and work together to gain a better understanding of the issues of conservation and create solutions for the problems that will be effective and long lasting.

“As history has shown, women can achieve greatness in conservation, you need to look no further than the lives of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and our Future for Nature's Saba Douglas-Hamilton.

“For the future of nature conservation, it is important that women's voices are heard and their actions are recognised.”

Nguyễn Thị Vân was born with spinal muscular atrophy, but she didn’t let that stop her from establishing the Will to Live Center, which provides training for the disabled in the nation’s capital Hà Nội.

She also runs Imagtor, a social enterprise which offers photo, video and IT solutions, employing about 80 people, many of whom have a disability.

She told the BBC: “I wish the environment in Việt Nam enabled people with talent and devotion to develop, instead of people feeling like they need to move abroad to use their skills.”

Launched in 2013, the annual ‘100 Women’ list focuses on the issues and achievements of women in society today and aims to tackle underrepresentation of women in media. — VNS