The University of Panama, through the San Miguelito Regional University Center (CRUSAM), celebrated the graduation of 59 new professionals under a program developed at the Women's Rehabilitation Center 'Doña Cecilia Orillac de Chiari' (CEFERE). For many, this achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter: the opportunity to rebuild their lives and be recognized by society from a perspective that values their effort, capacity, and determination. This academic effort remains active at CEFERE, Renacer, and the Santiago Penitentiary Center, providing a real opportunity for transformation for people deprived of their liberty. The director of CRUSAM, Dr. Luis Acosta, recalled the origins of this university program and highlighted the institutional commitment to social reintegration and to education as a fundamental tool for personal reconstruction. Professor José Álvaro Preudhomme, a member of this program's coordinating team, highlighted the benefits of this initiative, which has transformed the lives of women deprived of their liberty. Through the various careers offered by the University of Panama, new opportunities for growth and personal development are provided. During the ceremony, the valedictorian, Mireya Noriega, a graduate in Community Development with an emphasis on Promotion and Social Organization, gave an emotional speech. With a trembling voice and tears reflecting years of silent effort, she thanked the University of Panama for opening a path she said she never imagined she could take. These are women who, even in the most adverse circumstances, found in the Casa de Méndez Pereira an open door to dignity, self-improvement, and new opportunities to rebuild their life projects. The graduates, current and former prisoners, received their university degrees in various fields, marking a milestone not only academic but also profoundly human. She expressed her gratitude to her family and the teachers who accompanied her in this process, motivated her classmates not to give up, and left a clear message: 'If you have the opportunity to study, do it.' The second honor was taken by Adriana Quiroz, also a graduate in Community Development, while the third went to Yaribel Villarreal, from the same career, who celebrated this achievement as a decisive step towards a life full of new opportunities.
