Through her multiple activities in Greece and abroad, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis has built up an extensive record of social work, focused on important social issues such as: human rights, health and quality of life, social solidarity, education, poverty, human trafficking, abuse and exploitation of children, dialogue among civilizations, drugs' prevention in youth, etc. She promotes issues aimed at the establishment of a culture of peace and the protection of the world cultural heritage. She is the founder and President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family" (consultative status in the ECOSOC of the UN), and of the "ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer". Since 1999 she has been a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. She also serves as Board Member of international institutions active in the fields of peace, culture, education and health.

Personal Data

Born in Athens, Greece.
Married, mother of five children.
She speaks Greek, English, French

Education

PhD Candidate in Archaeology (University of Sheffield-UK)
BA in History of Art (with Benedictorial Distinction)
BA in Economics (USA)

Activities-International

Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO
- Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO for the international promotion of the Cultural Olympiads
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Library of Alexandria
- Member of the Board of Trustees of "The Suzanne Mubarak Women 's International Peace Movement" (Zurich)
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor Foundation
- Member of the President's Council of the Special Olympics "Europe-Eurasia"
- Member of the International Committee of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace
- Μember of the Global Public Service Advisory Board of the New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public   Service.
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights in the Harvard School of   Public Health.
- Official Greek delegate of the "European Office for Missing and Exploited Children"

Activities-Greece

- Founder and President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family".
- Founder and President of the Friends' Association for Children with Cancer "ELPIDA".

PRIZES - DISTINCTIONS

European /International:

• Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (France, 2006)
• Honorary Degree of Laws of the University of Sheffield (U.K., 1997).
• "Woman of Europe" with the European mission for the promotion of international summit contacts for the protection of human rights and, especially, children 's rights. In this framework, she had meetings with HM Queen Noor of Jordan, HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, the President of Ireland Mrs. Mary Robinson, Princess Diana of Wales, Mr. Federico Mayor, and others. (1996)
• International Humanitarian Award (USA, 1987).
• Paul Harris Fellow Award (Supreme Distinction of Rotary International, 1995)

Greece:

• Gold Cross of the Order of Benefaction by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Constantinos Stephanopoulos. (2002)
• Academy of Athens Award. (1997)
• Gold Medal of Honor and Benefaction of the city of Athens, given by the Mayor of Athens. (1996)
• Honorary Distinction from the Municipality of Thessaloniki.(1997)
• Award of the Panhellenic Association of Volunteers and Blood Donors, of the Greek Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Social Security. (1995)
• Red Cross Award.
• Honorary Distinction of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Athens. (1996)
• Honorary Distinction from the 251 General Hospital of the National Air Force. (1997)
• Special Prize from the Association of Greek Olympic Champions. (1998)
• Honorary Distinction of the research center "Demokritos" (2002)
• Awards of the Rotary Club of Western Attica, Glyfada and Kifissia. (1995-96)
• Award for ELPIDA 's action by the Rotary Club of Western Attica. (1997)
• Award of the LIONS Club of Greece. (1996
• Award of the Soroptimistic Union of Greece. (1996)
• Honorary Member of the Club UNESCO of Attica. (2000)
• Award of Civilisation and Education of Club UNESCO Dodecanese. (1996)
• "Leaders of the Year" Prize (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
• Honorary Distinction from the Municipality of Rethymno (Crete). (1996)
• Honorary Citizen of the city of Ermioni. (1996)
• Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Ano Liossia. (2001)

• The promotion of the Cultural Olympiads in international level, as Representative of the Director-General.

• For the promotion of the dialogue among civilizations, she organized the Painting Exhibition "Breaking the Veils" of women artists from the Islamic World, at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (March 2003) under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan.

• She supports the project for the promotion of the artistic education. She supported the Concert of Purcell School (school for young talents) which took place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (February 2003) with the presence of H.R.H. Prince Charles of Wales.

• She donated the Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem, in the framework of the UNESCO programme "Bethlehem 2000". The stone-laying ceremony took place on April 6, 2000, under the patronage of HE Mrs. Suha Arafat. On this occasion, she had official meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Yasser Arafat. The Center is included in the programme "Chain For Peace" of the Foundation for the Child and the Family.

• She supports the project for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. In this context, she participated in the International Conference organized by UNESCO in Venice (November 2002) for the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
  
  She supported the organization of the photographic exhibition on the World Cultural Heritage in Venice (November 2002) and in the United Nations Headquarters in New York (December 2002).
  
  She organized the concert of George Dalaras at the Herodeion Theatre in Athens (June 2003) in order to support the work of UNESCO for the restoration of the Aghia Sophia Church in Istanbul.

• She supports the project for the protection of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

• She supports the project for the Restoration of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.

• She participated in the Film "Children of Peace" (a UNESCO production), with a special message for Peace, along with other personalities such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Shimon Peres, Mr. Kofi Annan, Mr. Yasser Arafat, Mr. Federico Mayor, Mrs. Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and others.

• She attended the Meeting of Experts on Child Abuse, Child Pornography and Paedophilia on the INTERNET, which took place on January 18-19, 1999, at UNESCO in Paris, where she addressed the opening ceremony.

Marianna Vardinoyannis is the Founder and the President of the Association of Friends of Children with cancer "ELPIDA", which was established in 1990 in order to help and support sick children suffering from cancer, as well as their families. As president of "ELPIDA", Marianna Vardinoyannis has succeeded in achieving the following main goals of the Association:

• The building and equipping of three Bone Marrow Transplant Units for children with cancer, at the Athens Children's Hospital "AGIA SOPHIA", which are the first in Greece. 400 transplantations (data of October 2006) have been achieved since their inauguration in 1993.

• The "ELPIDA" Guest House for the accommodation of parents of sick children who come from the provinces, and whose therapy lasts for many months. It is a fully equipped five-storey building, located close to the hospital Units. The Guest House also hosts children with cancer from the Balkan as well as the Mediterranean Region.

• The next major project of Marianna Vardinoyannis is the creation of the first Oncology Children's Hospital in Greece. This project will be accomplished with the co-operation of ELPIDA and the Foundation for the Child and the Family, and the support of the Greek Government. She has launched a big fundraising crusade in Greece and abroad for this cause.

• The First European Congress on the subject of "Europe with a human face - Aid for the sick child", held under the patronage of EU Commissioner, Padraig Flynn. The Congress was aimed at exchanging experiences and viewpoints, establishing a network of associations similar to ELPIDA, and establishing a dialogue with European institutions.

• The establishment of the EUROPEAN ELPIDA PRIZES, under the patronage of Commissioner Padraig Flynn, in order to support and acknowledge collaboration among European social organisations, in their effort to solve various problems faced by children with cancer. The ELPIDA Prizes are awarded every four years and include a financial award to the winners. The first European ELPIDA Prizes were awarded at a special ceremony, held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Constantinos Stephanopoulos on March 11, 1996 in the old Parliament Building in Athens.
  The second European ELPIDA Prizes were awarded on February 16, 2001.

• The initiative to raise money in order to support the children-victims of the war in the Balkan region. She organised a "Tele-Marathon" in co-operation with the Foundation for the Child and the Family and the MEGA Channel. It was a TV show dedicated to the fundraising for the children-victims of the war. In a few hours, with the contribution and help of the Greek viewers, the large amount of money was raised. Part of this amount was spent:

  • on sending 120 tones of first aid, medication, food and clothing in the Balkan regions that were affected by the war.

  • for the creation of a Surgery Center at the Hospital of Gracanica in Kosovo, in co-operation with the "Medecins du Monde".

  • for the creation of an Multicultural Children Center "Athina" in Zemun (New Belgrade), which is also included in the Programme "Chain of Peace" of the Foundation for the Child and the Family.

• She supported the victims of the earthquake in Athens (September 1999). She organised a special Unit for the supply of first aid, food and clothing. She offered tents and prefabricated houses, and opened a special Bank Account in support of the victims.

• She created a Therapy Unit, for people addicted to alcohol and drugs, in the Daphni Psychiatric Hospital of Athens, which was destroyed during the earthquake.
  
  

In 1997, Marianna Vardinoyannis founded the "Foundation for the Child and the Family" which is based in Athens and it has also an office at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. The general aim of the Foundation is the promotion of the well-being of the children and their families, through advocacy and action focusing specifically on welfare, education, health, economic and social security, culture issues. The Foundation contributes to the universal efforts that fight against concerning issues like poverty, illiteracy, abandon, discrimination, violence and in the first place the violence against girls and women, sexual abuse of children and paedophilia, exploitation of children's labor, the involvement of children in war conflicts, the homelessness of children and their families.

As president of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family", Marianna Vardinoyannis has organised:

• the European Meeting "Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children of Europe" in Athens (1997), in collaboration with the "European Office for Missing and Exploited Children".
  
  

• the Meeting "International Convention for the Rights of the Child and the Role of the European Union", in co-operation with members of the European Parliament and Representatives of the European Commission. (1997)
  
  

• She works for the elimination of mines all over the world, a work started in co-operation with Princess Diana of Wales. She has supported children who have been mutilated by mines in Bosnia and raised money for the manufacture of artificial limbs for these children. (1998)
  
  

• the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions" on May 20-22, 1998, in Athens. The Forum was held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Constantinos Stephanopoulos, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Daniel Tarchys, UNESCO, and was also supported by the European Commission.
  
  

• She established the "DIANA Princess of Wales" Prize, to honour the memory and work of Princess Diana, and support European institutions, or persons, who dedicate their lives to the fight for a better and more human world for children. The Prize was first awarded in May 1998, during the opening ceremony of the European Family Forum.
  
  

• the Conference "Family and the Media" on October 26, 1998 in Athens, with the participation of leading Greek and foreign journalists.
  
  

• the Congress for the Child and the Family in the 21ST century, in co-operation with the University of Europe. The Congress was held under the auspices of the President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, on May 31-June 1, 1999, at the Sorbonne, in Paris.
  
  

• the European Conference "Sexual Abuse of Children and Paedophilia on the Internet" in Athens, on December 2-3, 1999. The Conference brought together many personalities engaged in the fight for children's rights, such as, Mrs. Giscard d' Estaing, President of the "Fondation pour l'Enfance", Judge Andre Ruffo, President of the International Bureau for Children's Rights in Canada, and others. CNN as well as the European Press covered the Conference.
  
  

• the event "Mother: Symbol of life, hope and peace", on the occasion of Mother's Day, in May 2000, and awarded mothers from Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Kosovo and Serbia, for their symbolic action for life, hope and peace.
  
  

• the "Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace" on June 1-2, 2000. The Conference was held under the auspices of UNESCO", on the occasion of the International Year for a Culture of Peace (2000). During the Conference, the "Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace" was launched by Marianna Vardinoyannis, and was drawn up with the collaboration of international personalities in the field of Peace.
  
  

• the prize-giving event "Children-Symbols of Hope, Will and Courage" in Athens, (November 2000), in order to reward and support children who have fought for their visions, who have overcome physical or financial difficulties, and whose efforts demonstrate their love for culture and education, their courage and heroism, their morality and strength. The event was organised on the occasion of the anniversary of the International Convention for the Rights of the Child and the International Day of the Child.
  
  

• At a special event organised in Patras, Greece, (May 2001), she awarded heroine-mothers of everyday life.
  
  

• the International Conference "The Child: Victim of War and Messenger of Peace" in Athens, on May 24-25, 2001, under the auspices of UNESCO in the framework of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, for the children of the World (2001-2010).
  
  

• The Prize Giving event "Mother: internal symbol of life, love, hope" at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus on May 28, 2002, on the occasion of the Mother/s Day.

• The International Conference "Contemporary Societies, cultural diversity and children`s perspectives" at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (September 2002) under the auspices of UNESCO.
  
  

• The Second European Meeting of Legal Practitioners in Athens (March 2003) on child pornography via the Internet and sexual exploitation of minors for commercial gain under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Justice. The European Commission granted a subsidy for this project under the budget item "GROTIUS II criminal". The fifteen capitals of the European Union were represented by a delegation of 3 persons composed of judges, police and experts from central government.
  
  

• The Exhibition of the Jordan River Foundation, held in Athens, under the auspices of H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan. (2004)

• The launching of the Declaration for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Drafted by 22 Greek Non Governmental Organisations. Submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and included in the official papers of the High Level Segment of ECOSOC. (2005)

• She co-operates with non-governmental associations and institutions from all over the world, such as: Fondation pour l`Enfance (France), International Peace Bureau, Hague Appeal for Peace, Noor Al-Hussein Foundation (Jordan), Jordan River Foundation (Jordan), University of Europe, International Bureau for the Rights of the Child (Canada), Robert F. Kennedy Memorial (USA), Amnesty International, Medecins du Monde, and others.

• As member of the Board of Directors of the "Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement":

  • She participated in the International Meeting held in Paris for the protection of the civilians during war conflicts. (September 2006)

  • She organized the Round Table of Business Community against Human Trafficking, the launching of the global campaign "End Human Trafficking Now" and a Fundraising Dinner in support of the campaign. They were attended by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, H.H. Sheika Sabeeka-Wife of the King of Bahrain, Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali, the Secretary General of INTERPOL Mr. Ronald Noble, Mr. Jean Michel Jarre, many businessmen, representatives of international organizations, etc. The Presentation of the outcome of the Round Table was held in Davos, in the framework of the World Economic Forum. (January 2006)

  • She supported the Fundraising Gala held in Cairo dedicated to the children of Palestine. (May 2005)

  • She participated in the "Women Defending Peace" International Conference in Geneva. (November 2004)