Between 2023 and 2024, 11 people in vulnerable situations and supported by Caritas have joined the staff of the Fundación Universitaria San Antonio (UCAM) and the Catholic schools of the Fundación Alma Mater in administration and service tasks in the centres they run in the Region of Murcia.

María Dolores García, President of both foundations, and José Antonio Planes, Director of Caritas Diocese of Cartagena, have assessed their two years of collaboration in the field of employment.

In 2023 there were five people who signed an employment contract and joined the labour market, and six in 2024.

These contracts are the result of the fluid relationship between the UCAM Human Resources area and the Caritas Placement Agency. The University has opened its selection processes to applications from people that Caritas accompanies in the parishes in terms of employment.

The network of 170 parish Caritas in the Region of Murcia has mixed teams made up of volunteers and Caritas workers who offer people in a situation or at risk of social exclusion different resources with the aim of providing them with access to employment and with it securing an economic income in their homes, improving their personal and family expectations of promotion. A personalised insertion itinerary is designed together with the participants, which takes into account their skills and potential, and includes complementary training, business prospecting and labour intermediation.

In the follow-up meeting held between the two institutions, José Antonio Planes Valero highlighted the involvement and commitment of the UCAM with Caritas throughout its more than 25 years of history. ‘Behind every job placement offered by UCAM, there is a company with strong values and links to the territory. In front, there is a prepared and excited person who faces this opportunity as a lever for change in their reality’, says the diocesan director.

Meanwhile, María Dolores García highlighted the opportunity that Caritas gives these people to receive training and facilitate their access to the world of work. ‘We are very happy to collaborate with this initiative, as well as the work they are doing in our foundations’, concluded the president of the UCAM.

In the Region of Murcia, there are several joint projects between the Universidad Católica de Murcia and Cáritas. In addition to providing jobs, UCAM financially supports the development of the Caritas programmes of Acogida y Acompañamiento (Shelter and Accompaniment), and Infancia y Juventud (Childhood and Youth); while raising awareness among its educational community about the importance of supporting the most vulnerable in society.