Helenita Noble Receives British Honour ‘MBE’ For Her Contributions in Vietnam, Mongolia

The work of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II of the UK when its Founder Christina Noble was awarded an OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2003 and most recenlty, its CEO Helenita Christina Noble was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for their services to humanity.

An MBE is the third-highest ranked Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood or damehood), after Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), the highest award, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the second-highest award.

The MBE recognizes outstanding achievements and services to the community which have had a long-term, significant and positive impact.

The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace, London and King Charles III presents the MBE to Helenita Noble. Photo: CNCF

The moment Helenita received the MBE from King Charles III revitalized the image of her mother receiving an honor at Buckingham Palace 20 years ago.

This event marks a significant milestone in CNCF's legacy over three generations, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the UK's diplomatic relations with Vietnam and the 60th with Mongolia. It's not just an individual honour, but a tribute to the resilient children, the team, and everyone supporting CNCF around the world.

34 years ago, CNCF’s Founder, Christina Noble arrived in Vietnam with just seven hundred dollars in her pocket spurred by a recurring dream of Vietnam that she'd had for 16 years. It was the dream of thousands of Vietnamese children reaching out for help in a post-war-torn country. Every day, Christina would go out looking for disadvantaged children. Children who were forced to survive on the street of Ho Chi Minh City, hungry, scared and at risk of exploitation and abuse, to offer them the love, care and help they needed.

Helenita Noble has worked tirelessly to continue her Mother and family’s legacy. Photo: CNCF

Since arriving in Vietnam (1989) and Mongolia (1997), Christina and her foundation have established over 170 projects providing education, healthcare and community development humanitarian services to vulnerable and destitute children and their families and poor rural communities. To date, these projects have assisted almost 900,000 children and collectively have impacted the lives of over 1 million children and adults.

Christina Noble arrived in Vietnam in 1989 and formally established CNCF as an NGO in 1991. Her heart and persistence eventually won the support of a few Vietnamese and British companies and an article about her brought extra funding after it was published in British tabloid The Sun.

Christina’s children Helenita, Nicolas and Androula have worked alongside their mother throughout these long years. Helenita, the eldest daughter of CNCF’s Founder Christina Noble OBE, joined the Foundation to work alongside her mother in 1996, and took the position of CEO in 2016. She initiated the transition from a founder/family foundation to an independent sustainable organization with the formation of an independent governing board, CNCF International, which was announced in January 2018.

Helenita's son, Thomas Noble, also took on the role of executive director of CNCF Mongolia for the 2014-2020 period.

Helenita Noble receives British Honour ‘MBE’ For her contributions in Vietnam and Mongolia. Photo: CNCF

When her mother founded the foundation, Helenita already had a successful career in the music industry. But a big turning point occurred when in 1994, Christina invited her eldest daughter to Vietnam to establish a music and arts program for street children and children in difficult circumstances.

Initially, Helenita only planned to stay in Vietnam for 6 months but then stayed another 6 months because the program was on the rise. She was truly inspired by her mother's work, even deeply sympathetic to the plight of children as well as moved by their resilience, strength and spirit. In the end, Helenita decided to stay in Vietnam, leave behind her music career and dedicate her whole life to working alongside her mother and family.

Today, she plays an important role in sustaining and developing CNCF’s life-changing programs, which are dedicated to serving the physical, medical, educational and emotional needs of vulnerable children and their communities.

CNCF Builds New Brigde for Locals in Hau Giang Community development is also one of three activities outside of education and health that the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) focuses on.

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