Authorities in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have awarded honorary citizenship to two foreign women for their significant contributions to the province.
Andrea Teufel, Chief Representative of the German Association for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (second from right), and Kazuyo Watanabe, President of the Asian Children’s Care League (second from left), received the titles at a ceremony on March 7.
Andrea Teufel, Chief Representative of the German Association for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and Kazuyo Watanabe, President of the Asian Children’s Care League (ACCL), received the titles at a ceremony on March 7.
Teufel has significantly contributed to the preservation and restoration of local heritage sites. Meanwhile, Watanabe, a Japanese woman, earned recognition for her support of children with cancer in the province.
Nguyen Van Phuong, Chairman of the Thua Thien-Hue Provincial People’s Committee, praised Andrea Teufel and Kazuyo Watanabe for their roles in community building, positive improvements, and promoting solidarity, cooperation, and mutual understanding between countries.
On the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8), Phuong extended his best wishes to the two honorary citizens and expressed hope for their continued contributions to developing a sustainable Thua Thien-Hue.
The honourees expressed pride in their titles and gratitude to the local leaders, Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, and Hue Central Hospital for their support during their tenure in the province. They aspire to further contribute to heritage restoration and preservation and improve survival rates among children with cancer.
Watanabe, who transitioned from a university lecturer 20 years ago, was moved to act after witnessing the inadequate facilities and treatment at Hue Central Hospital's children's cancer treatment facility. She returned two months later with two Japanese doctors to establish ACCL, aiming to enhance cancer treatment for child patients. Watanabe also founded Ngoi Nha Hy Vong (House Of Hope) to provide nutritious meals and accommodation for patients' families from afar.
With over 20 years dedicated to preserving Hue's heritage, Teufel considers Hue her second home. As a leading expert in the preservation and restoration of Hue’s cultural heritage, she and her colleagues received the Third Prize in the Technical Innovation Competition of Thua Thien-Hue Province and the Third Award in the National Science and Technology Innovation Award in 2018. Teufel was also honoured as one of Thua Thien-Hue Province's scientific and technological contributors in 2019.