UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyannis offered affection and warmth to children of underprivileged families and the homeless of the Municipality of Nikaia – Agios Ioannis Rentis.  On Tuesday, 17 December 2019, Mrs Vardinoyannis opened her arms to embrace our fellow citizens in need and visited the Social Structures for the Support of the Homeless of the UNESCO Club for Piraeus and the Islands.

She arrived at the centre early in the morning to visit with the children and wish them all the best for the holidays, speaking to them from the heart:  “I am truly touched to be here with you today, and I want to always see you smiling, as you are today. I would like to wish from the bottom of my heart that these holy days will bring health and love to everybody.  Be strong and never lose hope”.

Mrs Vardinoyannis read a Christmas fairytale to the children, demonstrating the values of friendship, love and contribution, and, together with Santa Claus, handed out Christmas presents to all.

And when it was time to eat, with the help of the children, Mrs Vardinoyannis prepared a warm Christmas meal for everyone with the favourite dishes of young and old: youvetsi and soutzoukakia as the main courses, as well as kourabiedes and melomakarona as sweet treats.  Mrs Vardinoyannis filled the plates of the children, who all loved the food, and then offered meals to the people who are accommodated at the Social Structures for the Support of the Homeless of the UNESCO Club for Piraeus and the Islands.

Mrs Vardinoyannis sat with them, talked to them for some time and listened attentively to the problems they are facing.   “I want you to know that I’ll be there for you whatever you may need,” Mrs Vardinoyannis reassured them.

Mr Ioannis Maronitis, Chairman of the UNESCO Club for Piraeus and the Islands, on whose initiative the Social Structures were established, welcomed Mrs Vardinoyannis and noted: “Your visit today is a comfort to the hearts of young and old.  Your presence here gives us the strength to continue our work, to stand by our fellow citizens who need us”.

It should be noted that Mrs Vardinoyannis took the opportunity of her visit to donate a mini van to the Social Structures for the Support of the Homeless of the UNESCO Club for Piraeus and the Islands of the Municipality of Nikaia – Agios Ioannis Rentis, which will help them meet their needs.