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JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE 2020 SALAMIS – THERMOPYLAE ANNIVERSARY

A joint press conference was held for the 2020 SALAMIS-THERMOPYLAE ANNIVERSARY by the President of the Honorary Deanship, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the Minister of Culture, Mrs Lina Mendoni, and the Minister of Interior, Mr Panagiotis Theodorikakos, on Monday, 16 December 2019 at the Acropolis Museum Amphitheatre.

During her speech, Mrs Vardinoyannis presented in detail the activities that the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation is planning, which, as she noted, will be financed exclusively with Foundation funds and implemented under the responsibility and planning of the Foundation

A VISIT OF LOVE AT THE LYREION INSTITUTE

On Friday, 13 December 2019, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis visited the children staying at the Lyreion Children’s Institute.

Mrs Vardinoyannis visited the nearly 50 children staying at the Lyreion Children’s Institute shortly before Christmas, to wish them happy holidays.

The children had prepared a musical welcome for Mrs Vardinoyannis, singing Christmas carols from Crete and “Holy Night”, which moved everyone present.

The Vice-President of the Institute, Abbess Maria, welcomed Mrs Vardinoyannis: “It is a great joy to have Mrs Vardinoyannis visit us. 

MEETING BETWEEN MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS AND ITALIAN PRESIDENT SERGIO MATTARELLA

In the framework of the XIX High Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, held in Rome, His Excellency, Mr Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, welcomed the members of the Board of Directors of the organisation and hosted a reception in their honour at the Quirinal Palace on Thursday 28 November 2019.

During the event and his speech, he congratulated the President and the members of the Board of Directors for the important work of the organisation, which brings together leaders from different countries of the world for an intercultural dialogue on the subjects of peace,

MEETING BETWEEN MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS AND POPE FRANCIS

UNESCO Good Will Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis met with Pope Francis on Wednesday 27 November 2019, at the Vatican.

“I thank God for blessing me with the honour of meeting you for a second time.  I would like to express my gratitude for this meeting.  Having dedicated my life to children and their protection, I will be at your side to help you with your godly work in any way I can,” Mrs Vardinoyannis told Pope Francis.

Pope Francis congratulated Mrs Vardinoyannis on her humanitarian work,

SPEECH BY MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS AT THE ITALIAN SENATE

The proceedings of the XIX High Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center were officially launched with a speech by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyannis before the Italian Senate, on Wednesday, 27 November 2019.

The XIX High Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center was titled: “Freedom from Violence: Peace, Security and Conflict Prevention in the 2030 Development Agenda” and attracted to Rome some of the leading figures of the planet who came to attend the proceedings.

Mrs Vardinoyannis spoke about the important role of education,

8th EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS OF THE SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER PROGRAMME

The 8th Educational Seminar for Teachers of the Speak Truth to Power Programme was successfully held at the NJV Athens Plaza Hotel on Monday 29 October 2019. The event was organised by the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation, with the participation of 100 teachers and students from public and private schools across Greece.

The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Foundation, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, welcomed the teachers and students from the public and private schools across Greece who participated in the Seminar to present the actions they have implemented. 

TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTER FOR HELLENISTIC STUDIES OF THE BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA

A glorious and moving ceremony was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Monday, 21 October 2019, in celebration of the ten-year Anniversary of the Center for Hellenic Studies, which was inaugurated in 2008 and has been operating in the Library at the initiative of the Vardinoyannis family.

The event was organised by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in order to honour this important work.

In recognition of her great contribution and hard work over many years at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Director of the Library,

OPENING OF THE EVENTS FOR THE 25000 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE AND THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS.

An event marking the opening of a series of Events for the Celebration the 2500-year Anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Salamis was held in Athens, at the Zappeion Mansion, on Wednesday, 16 October 2019.

The event was attended by His Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Prime Minister Mr Kyriakos MitsotakIs, Minister of Culture and Sports Mrs Lina Mendoni, Minister of Interior Mr Panagiotis Theodorikakos and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis. The Ministry of Culture and Sports,

Speech of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, Athens Democracy Forum 2019

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is truly a special honor for me to be with you today. I would like to thank the “Democracy and Culture Foundation”, the New York Times and the President of the Athens Democracy Forum Mr. Achilles Tsaltas for their kind invitation. 

Especially this year, the topics of the Athens Democracy Forum make us all rethink the ways that humanity moves forward, focusing on current and future challenges, and placing democracy and culture in the core of a sustainable world. The world that we all envision for the new generations,

INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION BY STUDENTS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE “SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER” PROGRAMME

Students from the SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER Programme of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation and Axion Hellas gave an interactive presentation in the presence of Mrs Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, and UNESCO Good Will Ambassador Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis on Wednesday, 9 October 2019, at the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art.

During the event, which was held on the occasion of the Athens Democracy Forum,