11Mar
05Mar
Mrs. Vardinoyannis co-operates with several NGOs around the world, such as: Fondation pour l`Enfance (France), AVEC (France), International Peace Bureau (Switzerland), Hague Appeal for Peace, Jordan River Foundation (Jordan), Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (USA), Heydar Aliyev Foundation (Azerbaijan), Qatar Foundation (Qatar) and others. She participated in many international and European meetings, such as:
- The first ECPAT World Congress on Sexual Exploitation of Children, in Stockholm, which was held under the auspices of H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden (August, 1996)
- The Summit of the “Fondation pour l’Enfance” in Paris, for the presentation of the work of the “European Office for Missing and Exploited Children”. She participated as a keynote speaker (November 1997)
- The International Conference on Missing Children organised by INTERPOL and the “Fondation pour l’Enfance”,
05Mar
In 1997, Mrs. Vardinoyannis founded the “Foundation for the Child and the Family” for the protection of children’s rights and the building of a better future for the children of the world. The Foundation is a Non Governmental Organisation (N.G.O.) with a Special Consultative Status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations Organisation. In 2012, the Foundation was renamed as “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation” in order to expand its activities in accordance with timely humanitarian and social issues that affect not only childhood but society in general.
The Foundation organizes meetings, conferences and lectures, on topics related to education,
05Mar
Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis founded the Association of Friends of Children with cancer “ELPIDA” in 1990, aiming to help and support children suffering from cancer, as well as their families. Since then, she is the President of the Association.
She has succeeded to raise awareness in Mediterranean and Balkan societies on issues regarding childhood cancer, to mobilize volunteering and donations, to reverse prejudice against cancer and to achieve significant goals through wide fundraising campaigns including telethons, cultural events, exhibitions, artwork auctions and bazaars: the first Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in Greece at the “Agia Sophia”
04Mar
Concerning her mission as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, in her article included in the book* entitled “60 women contributing to the 60 years of UNESCO”, Mrs. Vardinoyannis writes inter alia:
“Participating in UNESCO s activities is a source of profound satisfaction and an experience of special essence for me. The elements of UNESCO s objectives that strike me as especially admirable and of fundamental value are its breadth of vision, foresight, immediacy and innovative approach. Through the enormous volume of data the Organisation processes and filters, it brings to light matters that will either have grave repercussions for humanity in the future or identifies essential sectors requiring support and protection.