Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation
On the 2nd of March 2011, the “European Council for Youth Mobility in Research and Technology” honoured 12 outstanding Greek personalities for their important contribution to the fields of social contribution, science, culture and sports, as they were elected among 60 personalities by the votes of thousand young people with distinctions.
The event entitled "Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation" was organised within the framework of the Hellenic Presidency and took place at the Caravel Hotel with the participation of more than 300 young people with distinctions from all over Greece as well as the presence of many leading personalities from the world of the arts, science, culture and the media.
The aim of the event and the honorary distinction awarded to the 12 outstanding Greek personalities was, on the one hand to reveal the "other" Greece, the Greece that can constitute an example for the rest of the world and play a leading role in international developments, and, on the other, to highlight the work of Greek pioneers in various fields to young people so as to serve as their role models.
The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Foundation, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, was among the honoured people, and was awarded the “Excellence Award for Social Contribution”.
On presenting her with the Award, the President of the "European Council for Youth Mobility in Research and Technology", Mr Konstantinos Nakis, said inter alia: "… you are a personality of international renown, one of the most important Greek women and a bright example as well as a role model for our country's youth… Thank you for the particularly great honour you have given us by accepting this honorary distinction as well as your participation in our vision for Greece as a country of progress, creativity, recognition, excellence…"
After expressing her thanks for the honour bestowed upon her by the “European Council for Youth Mobility in Research and Technology”, Mrs Vardinoyannis addressed a brief greeting to the public, pointing out that: "… Today, the international community faces great challenges and many difficulties. In a world without borders, we can see where humanity is heading when people are replaced by numbers; when dreams are often shattered; when human life loses its value in the flames of wars without ideals on a daily basis. Through my action I have seen human pain, children suffering, the horror of war and disease but also the gradual destruction of our planet. However, hope is always alive in my heart whenever I start any collective effort to achieve a great goal. Regardless the position I fought from, my conclusion has always been the same: Life is worth it when you fight for what you believe is good and right! Moreover, all the great ideas that changed the world originated from ordinary people who did not consider themselves as the centre of the world but the world as the centre of their actions. This transcending of the self is the foundation of volunteerism, humanitarian and social contribution. When we manage to make the "I" identical with the "we", then we can truly hope…"
His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Hieronymus II, the Academician and Professor Sir Vasilios Markezinis, the Academician and Professor Ioannis Iliopoulos, Professor Dionysios Simopoulos, Mikis Theodorakis, the film director Yannis Smaragdis, Giorgos Dalaras, Marie Kyriakou, the Olympic Champion Pyrros Dimas,the basketball star Nikos Galis and the Olympic Champion Voula Patoulidou were also honoured at the event.
- 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.