Order of Merit of Italy honours a great friend of Vietnam
WVR - Mr. Greig Craft – Chairman of the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, godfather of Thien Nhan, and co-founder of the program “Thien Nhan and Friends” – has been awarded the Order of Merit of Italy by the Italian Government.
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The Order of Merit of Italy is the highest honor of the nation, bestowed upon individuals with outstanding contributions in the humanitarian and social fields.
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| Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Della Seta presents the Order of Merit of Italy to AIP Chairman Greig Craft. (Source: AIP) |
On November 4, in Hanoi, the official award ceremony was held attended by Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Della Seta.
This event holds special significance, recognizing Mr. Greig Craft's long-term contributions in collaborating with Italian doctors to support patient treatment in Vietnam, while also promoting medical exchange programs between Vietnamese and Italian doctors.
The Italian Ambassador to Vietnam affirmed: “Mr. Greig Craft is not only a great friend of Vietnam and Italy but also a symbol of the strong connection between medicine, compassion, and international friendship.
From supporting surgeries to organizing and training, and professional exchanges, he has contributed to creating a truly cross-national humanitarian network that brings change to thousands of Vietnamese families.”
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| Ambassador Marco Della Seta affirms Mr. Greig Craft as a great friend of Vietnam and Italy. (Source: AIP) |
However, perhaps the greatest reward for him does not lie in the titles, but in the times he steps into clinics and operating rooms with Italian and Vietnamese doctors. This is where every smile revived after surgery is a vivid testament to humanity and cross-border friendship.
Inspired by his love for little Thien Nhan — a child abandoned and left with a physical disability after a tragic accident — Mr. Greig Craft, along with individuals like Ms. Tran Mai Anh, Ms. Na Huong, and Dr. Roberto De Castro, an Italian reconstructive surgery expert, founded the "Thien Nhan and Friends" program in 2011.
After 15 years of persistent activity, the program has provided free examinations, surgeries, and consultations for thousands of children across Vietnam, with the participation of dozens of doctors primarily from Italy, the UK, Turkey, the US, and leading hospitals in Vietnam.
Beyond treatment, the program organizes professional workshops, supports training, and sends Vietnamese doctors abroad to study at major hospitals. It also donates essential medical equipment to domestic treatment facilities, contributing to enhancing the medical sector's capacity and creating a sustainable impact.
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| Delegates attending the Order of Merit of Italy award ceremony for Mr. Greig Craft. (Source: AIP) |
| Mr. Greig Craft is one of the prominent figures committed to the welfare of Vietnamese children. He has accompanied Thien Nhan and his mother from the early days, on a treatment journey spanning Singapore, the United States, Italy, and Belgium. For over three decades, Mr. Greig Craft has tirelessly engaged in humanitarian and diplomatic activities in Vietnam. He is a pioneer in promoting the normalization of Vietnam-US relations, founding AmCham Vietnam, and establishing Protec — the world's first non-profit helmet manufacturing plant, for the safety of millions of children and motorcyclists. In 2011, he was awarded the Friendship Order by the President of Vietnam. |
