ANNIE AWARD HONOREE 

Navyn Salem

Navyn Salem is the founder and CEO of Edesia, a U.S. nonprofit with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in developing countries worldwide. Her factory in Rhode Island produces a range of peanut-based nutritional supplements, like Plumpy’Nut, that are sent to refugee camps and conflict zones around the world where child malnourishment is rampant. 

Since 2010, Edesia has reached over 9 million children in over 50 countries, including Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Syria. Navyn also works locally to support refugees living in Rhode Island. She hires refugees and immigrants from over 25 countries to work at Edesia and has developed supportive relationships with local organizations dedicated to serving refugees, like Beautiful Day and Women’s Refugee Care. For her extraordinary work, Navyn has received numerous awards and honorary degrees. She lives with her husband and four daughters in Barrington, Rhode Island.