Prominent persons from all over the world attended the 12th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, which took place in Paris, on 16 October 2012, at the UNESCO’ s headquarters. This year, for the first time, the Goodwill Ambassadors were joined by Artists for Peace, Champions for Sport and Special Envoys for Education; all the categories of UNESCO emissaries.
The internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil, described as the greatest show on earth, came to Greece for the first time in September 2012, and dedicated one of its performances to the Association of Friends of Children with cancer ELPIDA, in order to support the new vision of the Association, the establishment of a Volunteer Bone Marrow Donor Bank.
Two days before Christmas 2011, at the Cultural Centre of Nikaia, his Eminence Alexios Metropolitan of Nikaia, organized a special event in order to provide food to approximately 2000 needy people in the area. The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, who has been the main food donor for many years, felt the need to stand by his side once again and join her wishes with his.
The 29th Athens Classic Marathon, that took place on 14 November 2011, under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, and UNESCO, apart from its historical, cultural and athletic dimension, also displayed another very important one, its humanitarian profile, since part of the proceeds from the Marathon were donated in order to support the educational programmes of UNESCO, targeting poor children and mainly girls.
In the frame of the 36th General Assembly of UNESCO, that took place from the 27th of October until the 10th of November 2011 at the UNESCO’s Headquarters, UNESCO organised the Heads of States Forum, a platform for reflection and exchange of opinions in the highest rank of governments, intending to new, more inspired and creative prospects for the future of humanity.
The 2011 Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors took place on September 12 2011, at the UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris. Focus was turned to the countries afflicted by war and natural disasters, as well as the repercussions of the world economic crisis.
Those who joined the Meeting included: the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan, the former President of Lithuania Mr Valdas Adamkus, the former President of Iceland Mrs Vigdis Finnbogadottir, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the French composer Jean-Michel Jarre, the American actor Forest Whitaker, the Italian architect Renzo Piano, Mrs Ute-Henriette Ohoven,
On 27 July 2011, the Mayor of Rethymno, Mr Giorgis Marinakis, along with many people welcomed Mr Vardis J. Vardinoyannis and his wife, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, who visited the historical city on the occasion of the presentation of theGreek publication of Mrs Vardinoyiannis’ book “Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan society”.