The 12th seminar of the program 'Speaking Truth to Power' is dedicated to Marianna V. Vardinoyannis

With great success and with the participation of dozens of educators and students from all over Greece, the 12th Seminar of the Educational Program “Speaking Truth to Power” by the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation took place on Monday, April 8, 2024, at the NJV Athens Plaza Hotel.

The Seminar was dedicated to the memory of the late Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, who had the inspiration and initiative to implement the Program in Greek schools in collaboration with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, aiming to instill in the younger generation the value of respecting and protecting human rights.

With great emotion and respect for the personality, work, and contribution of Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Mrs. Kerry Kennedy, spoke: “In our times, there is a lack of solidarity and compassion. We must always remember to be in solidarity with our fellow human beings, just as Marianna always did, who had a heart that embraced us all.”

Mrs. Kennedy made a special reference to the significant work of Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, which was honored in 2020 by the United Nations with the Nelson Mandela Award. She announced the decision of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation to include a separate chapter dedicated to the life, work, and fight for human rights of Marianna V. Vardinoyannis in the Program’s book, which is taught to thousands of students around the world.

The Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation, represented by Mrs. Nouli Manoli, thanked Mrs. Kennedy for this initiative: “The announcement of the creation of a chapter dedicated to Marianna Vardinoyannis is a great honor for our Foundation, the Vardinoyannis family, and for the whole of Greece. We sincerely thank Kerry Kennedy for this thought. It is a small token of honor for this international Greek woman to have her work taught and analyzed alongside the work of the greatest human rights fighters. We hope that the example of her life and the hope she always generously offered will illuminate the lives of our educators and students.”

The President of the Institute of Educational Policy, Mr. Spyridon Doukakis, delivered a greeting during the Seminar and spoke about the great importance of teaching the “Speaking Truth to Power” Program in Greek schools: “This Program is the best thing we can have in Greek society, in Greek reality. We have a motto at the Institute of Educational Policy, ‘Together for Education.’ This is what the late Marianna V. Vardinoyannis stood for: the right of all children to education. Something that is the goal of all of us.”

AXION Hellas, a constant ally of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation, ensuring the teaching and spread of the “Speaking Truth to Power” Program even in the most remote areas of Greece, was present at the Seminar. The President of AXION Hellas, Mrs. Aliki Drakouli, emphasized that: “It is in our hands to continue the vision of Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and we will carry it out because we owe it to her, and we owe it to society. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Axion Hellas and Special Advisor Prince Nikolaos, I would like to thank you for the excellent cooperation over the years. Your contribution to our journey is invaluable!”

The Director of the “Speaking Truth to Power” Program at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Mrs. Karen Robinson, in her speech to the Greek educational community, presented the main directions and proposals for the more effective teaching of the Program, emphasizing that the teaching of human rights can be integrated into all subjects and that most of the time, educators are actually teaching children in their own way how to respect human rights. She made a special reference to Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, saying: “We have a saying in the USA that says, ‘Let your life speak for you.’ So let’s let her life and work speak for this great personality, and let them serve as an example for all of us.”

PRESENTATION OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

In the second part of the Seminar, educators and students had the opportunity to present the activities they implemented as part of the Program.

The following schools presented their activities:

• Athens College-Psychico College, represented by Philologist Mr. Iordanis Papadopoulos, who spoke about “Methods of Implementing the ‘Speaking Truth to Power’ Program at Athens College-Psychico College.”
• The Society for the Promotion of Education and Learning-Arsakeia Schools, represented by the Superintendent of Arsakeia Schools, Mrs. Kiki Papapetrou-Moursela, and Philologist Mrs. Evdokia Giannikopoulou, Principal of the 2nd Arsakeio Gymnasium of Ekali, who presented the “Review of the Pan-Arsakeian Conference on Human Rights.”
• 2nd Model Gymnasium of Volos, represented by Philologist Mrs. Xanthoula Dimaraki, who presented the “Comparative Research of Students on the Status of Women in Two Different Generations.” Also present were 17 students who participated in the research and enlivened the Seminar with their presence.
• 2nd Gymnasium of Alexandria, Imathia, represented by Philologist Mrs. Eleni Aggeli, who presented a beautiful song created by the students inspired by the Program, titled “Let’s Hold Hands, Let’s Become a Voice.”
• Gerakas Art Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes, represented by teachers Terpsichori-Ersi Giannopoulou, Kleio Boleraki, and Aikaterini Varela, who presented how students transformed human rights into artistic creation.
• Evening Vocational High School of Preveza, represented by Principal Mrs. Viki Gaki and educator Evangelia Thanasara, who presented the students’ activities, speaking about the “Utilization of Art in Adult Education of Secondary Education.” Also present was student Artur Tsoko, who was the driving force behind the initiative to paint school classrooms inspired by famous artworks and human rights.
• 3rd Lyceum of Serres, represented by Philologist Mrs. Eleni Liousa, who spoke on the topic “War and Human Rights: From Thucydides to Today.”
• Gymnasium of Alikianos, Chania, Crete, represented by Principal Georgios Karkanis and teacher Argyro Tzagkaraki, who presented the original publication of mantinades inspired by human rights, a publication created in collaboration with the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation. A set to music mantinada concluded the presentations.

The Seminar was coordinated by the representatives of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation, Mrs. Ino Konstantopoulou and Mrs. Gogo Stathopoulou.

Representing Axion Hellas, in addition to President Mrs. Aliki Drakouli, were Special Advisor Prince Nikolaos and Mrs. Neni Douka.

Representing the “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with Cancer” was Mrs. Eleni Samara-Konstantakatos, a member of the Association’s Board of Directors.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE “SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER” PROGRAM:

The “Speaking Truth to Power” Program is a pioneering human rights program by the “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights” Foundation that is taught to millions of students worldwide. The Program is based on the book by Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, and has been taught in Greek schools for the eighth consecutive year, with the initiative of the late Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, with wide participation from schools across Greece. It is under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and is also approved by the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs. The Program is not an additional subject but a teaching tool for educators that can be used in all subjects, aiming to familiarize students from a young age with the concept of human rights so that, as future citizens, they can ensure the creation of a better and fairer society. More than 100 public and private schools from across Greece and schools from the diaspora participate in the Program.

Educators interested in enrolling in the “Speaking Truth to Power” Program can do so for free through the website of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation: www.mvvfoundation.gr