María Dolores García, UCAM President, presided over the emotional graduation ceremony of the second edition of the University Course in Sports Training and Practice with Other Realities, which took place today at the Murcia II Penitentiary Centre. This programme uses sport to promote personal and social development, self-improvement and integration. The UCAM President was accompanied by Víctor Meseguer, Director of the International Chair of Social Responsibility; by Teresa Nimes, world trail running champion and Director of the course; by Jesús Fernández, Director of the prison; and by Virginia Martínez, President of Colectivo Paréntesis. UCAM was also represented by its General Secretary, José Alarcón; the Director of Legal Services, Isabel Mendoza; and the Vice-Rector of University Outreach, Antonio Alcaraz. 

The UCAM President thanked Colectivo Paréntesis ‘because they are giving their lives for people who are socially excluded by the circumstances in which they have had to live. I am sure José Luis Mendoza would be very happy with this project’. Similarly, Víctor Meseguer recalled how the founder of the University ‘asked us to work with people who are in conflict with the law, contributing to their training and reintegration’. He also highlighted the work of Colectivo Paréntesis, whose president stated that ‘when athletes share their life experiences with prisoners, these are given the opportunity to dream of a better future’. 

One of the most emotional moments of the event was the speech given by Teresa Nimes, who said to the graduates: ‘I am very proud of you because, as José Luis intended with this course, you are going to leave being better people’. David Cal, Olympic canoeing champion, athlete and lecturer of this course, acted as commencement speaker of the graduation, which was attended by the sports instructors of the correctional centre who have provided training in this course. 

This project is framed within the Digital MujeRes programme of the CARM General Directorate for Equality, and UCAM aims to help the penitentiary institution in the implementation of good habits, actively collaborating in the planning, implementation and supervision of daily sporting activities, focused on the entire prison population.