DEMOS celebrates 10 years

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The Chair for The Family and Disabilities: Repsol Foundation-Down Syndrome Madrid held one of the most emotional events of the year, the graduation of the tenth class of the DEMOS programme. This year, the ceremony also marked the first decade of the programme, and was followed by an event to celebrate this important date with alumni from previous editions.

TECNODEMOS and EDUCADEMOS students received their stoles, which certify the successful completion of the DEMOS programme. The event was held in the assembly hall of the university, counting on the presence of their families and patrons of the project.

The director of the chair, Ana Berástegui, congratulated the students in her opening speech. Then, the students Sofía Rueda (EDUCADEMOS) and María Orta (TECNODEMOS), talked about the academic year and thanked the lecturers for their dedication and their families for their unconditional support.

The sponsor of this graduating class, Alejandro Oñoro, President of ILUNION, shared some words with the students. On behalf of Down Madrid, the President of the Board of Trustees, Ignacio Egea, and the Employment Coordinator, Ángela Caballero, also congratulated the recent graduates. After their speeches, the students who have successfully completed the programme in one of its two modalities received the stoles.
DEMOS is a training project for the employment and university inclusion of young people with intellectual disabilities, organised by the chair for the Family and Disabilities: Repsol-Down Syndrome Madrid since 2014.

There was an event after the graduation to celebrate 10 years since the beginning of the project. Many students, alumni, lecturers and sponsors attended the celebration. The rector of the university, Enrique Sanz, SJ, made reference to the film “Follow Your Heart” to tell the students that, in their life and career, they must go where they feel better, wherever their heart takes them.