Charity gala for the fight against drugs
Prominent personalities from all over the world, invited by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, founder and President of the Mentor Foundation, declared their vigorous decision to impede the spread of drugs and their will to protect the children and the young people from the threat of drugs, with their presence in the charity gala of the Mentor Foundation.
The gala, with motto "Protecting our children", was held at the Museum of Natural History in London and included an official dinner and auction of rare items. Its aim was the aid of Mentor Foundation.
The President of the Foundation, H.M. Queen Silvia opened the event with her speech; a greeting of the founding member of the Foundation, H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan, as well as of the President of Mentor UK, Lord Mancroft followed.
Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was present and she was one from the supporters of the evening. Other participants were: Princess Dore Loewenstein, Baroness Nickelson, Lord and Lady de Mauley, Sir Magdi Yacoub, the Ambassadors of Sweden, Colombia and Malta in England, Mr. George Goulandris and Mrs. Christianna Goulandris, Mr. and Mrs. Panagiotis Laimos, the Director of HSBC Mr. Peter Ahlas, Mrs. Basma Al Sulaiman, the fashion designer Nino Cerruti, the English boxing legend Chris Eubank, the American musician Silence and many others.
The Mentor Foundation
The Mentor Foundation, which was founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, has created a large shield of protection for the children from the scourge of drugs. The President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family", Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor Foundation and a strong supporter of its activities.
Τhe Mentor Foundation is an international non-governmental organisation activated in an international level for the prevention of the use of drugs; it collaborates with the World Health Organisation(WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Olympic Committee, as well as with governments and independent organisations.
The keywords of Mentor action are "Prevention - Opportunity - Protection" and it supports programmes and activities that are addressed to children and young people giving them strength, values and opportunities in order to be able to make choices that would contribute to their health, their prosperity, not to succumb to pressure and to be in position to say "NO" to drugs.
For the achievement of this aim, during its 10 years of operation, the Mentor Foundation has helped 10.000.000 children in 40 countries, has strengthened the encounter groups for the prevention of the use of addictive substances as well as educational programmes in four continents. The Mentor Foundation is supported and financed by individuals and enterprises in all over the world.
The Members of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor Foundation are: HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, HM Queen Noor of Jordan, HRH Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, HRH Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and others.
In the last meeting of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor Foundation, the action of its national and regional organisations and their future programmes were extensively discussed, while particular emphasis was given in the establishment of Mentor Arabia for the Arabic countries which has already begun since December 2004. Furthermore, the establishment of Mentor in Greece was also proposed by Mrs. Vardinoyannis.
According to the data which Mentor collected from the relevant official organisations the use of drugs is worsened in the entire world.
- Over 200 million people have used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months.
- The World Health Organisation estimates that 200.000 people died from the use of drugs in 2000.
- Over 100.000 young people become regular smokers every day - mainly in the developed countries.
- In certain countries of the European Union, about 1/3 of the children of 15 to 16 years old have tried cannabis at least once.
- 1 out of 4 accidents in industries worldwide are attributed to the use of drugs or alcohol.
- A recent research reveals that 15-year-old children that regularly smoke cannabis are 4.5 times more likely to suffer by schizophrenia at the age of 26.
For these reasons, Mentor considered necessary to intensify the programmes of informing the public, even with the use of seminars at the working places. One of the most important programmes that it will immediately be applied by Mentor is the spread of its action via the Internet with online advisory services for parents and children as well as with educational seminars for schoolteachers and parents.
- 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.