Early childhood resource and training center in Bethlehem
In the holy city of Bethlehem, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis laid the first stone for the construction of the “Early Childhood Resource and Training Center” in a ceremony held on April 2000, under the auspices of Mrs. Suha Arafat and in presence of many representatives of the local Authorities.
The “Early Childhood Resource and Training Center” is a donation made by Mr. Vardis Vardinoyannis and Mrs. Marianna Vardinoyannis, on the occasion of the 2000 anniversary since the birth of Jesus Christ, and as Mrs. Vardinoyannis stressed in her brief speech, “it is a symbolic act in a symbolic place with the aim to send from here the message for world peace in this symbolic year of 2000, the International Year of Culture for Peace”.
The establishment of the Centre was included in the UNESCO project “Bethlehem 2000” and is located in the UNESCO educational village in Bethlehem. Its main goal is to promote the Peace culture and education in this area and the timeless values of love, peace, coexistence and solidarity among the peoples. The concept is the center to be open to all the children of Bethlehem and the broader area, regardless of their nationality or religion and shall get adapted to the particularity and history of this place but most of all to its multicultural character, since it is a crossroad between East and West.
Some of those who attended this event were: Mr. Emil Jarjoui, member of the PLO Executive Office, as a representative of Mr. Yasser Arafat, and the following Palestinian Ministers: Mr. Naim Abu El-Hommos (Minister of Education), Mr. Atef Alawneh (Minister of Finance) with his Greek wife Mrs. Evangelia Kaffe-Alawneh, Mr. Mitri Abu-Eita (Minister of Tourism and Antiquities), Mr. Nabil Qassis (Minister of Coordination of the Committee: “Bethlehem 2000), Mr. Salah Tamari (Minister of the Presidency), the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr. Hanna J. Nasser, the Palestine’s Ambassador in UNESCO, Mr. Ahmad Abderlazek, UNESCO Director of Primary Education Mrs. Aicha Ba-Dialo, UNESCO representative Mr. Omar Massalha, the Greek Consul in Jerusalem, Mr. Panagis Bantounas, the wife of the Greek Ambassador in Israel Mrs. Markella Alverti-Mitsiali, members of Palestine’s Greek community etc.
After the event, Mrs. Vardinoyannis thanked the Mayor of Bethlehem for his valuable cooperation, support and offer of the land where the Center is planned to be build. She also thanked UNESCO and the Palestinian Ministry of Education for providing the necessary infrastructure and information about the needs of the region and thus making the construction of the Center possible.
On the occasion of this event, Mrs. Vardinoyannis had a meeting with His Holiness the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Diodoros I. During their talk, she extended to him the proposal of UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura concerning the UNESCO project for the restoration of the Church of Nativity.
In addition, Mrs. Vardinoyannis had a formal meeting with the President of the Palistinian Authority Mr. Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. During this meeting, which lasted over half an hour, President Arafat congratulated Mrs. Vardinoyannis for her humanitarian work and exchanged with her views about peace, civilization and social solidarity related issues.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.