26 April, 2024

'Play Thinking with MARNYS' now has nearly 9,000 students from 47 schools

The project, which aims to checkmate school failure, has had a multiplier effect, reaching its fifth phase of incorporations since its creation in 2022.
Its promoters, the Cartagena laboratory MARNYS - Martínez Nieto S.A. and the Lapuerta Chess Sports Club, face the challenge of expanding it to all classrooms in the Region of Murcia.

The educational project 'Play Thinking with MARNYS', promoted by the Cartagena laboratory of food supplements and natural cosmetics MARNYS - Martínez Nieto S.A., in collaboration with the Lapuerta Chess Sports Club, now has 47 affiliated educational centres, reaching nearly 9,000 participating students.

In this fifth phase of incorporations since its launch, the following schools have joined: Stella Maris School in Cartagena; La Aljorra Primary School; Fernando Garrido in Canteras; Poeta Antonio Oliver in Canteras; Santa Florentina in La Palma; Vicente Medina in Los Dolores; Feliciano Sánchez Saura in Barrio Peral; San Juan Bosco in Los Gabatos; and Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Torre Pacheco.

The representatives of these new schools have received the material consisting of chess boards, pieces, and books during a delivery ceremony on Friday, April 26, at the facilities of MARNYS - Martínez Nieto S.A., presided over by Mr. José Martínez Nieto, founder of Martínez Nieto S.A. and main driving force behind the project, together with Ms. Lourdes López Díaz, CSR responsible.

Checkmate to school failure throughout the Region of Murcia

The 'Play Thinking with MARNYS' project aims to bring chess closer to classrooms throughout the Region of Murcia. "We want students to play, but not just for fun, but rather thinking strategically, and also to distance themselves from bad habits and enjoy human contact, with in-person friends, not virtual ones, and to learn to disconnect from screens in order to connect in a healthy way with the world around them," explains Mr. José Martínez Nieto.

Meanwhile, the schools that have already implemented 'Play Thinking with MARNYS' are seeing positive results and notable motivation from the students. María Pilar Prieto, from Santiago Apóstol School, points out that they have integrated the initiative in the Physical Education area, and that students actively participate in championships during recess, with children from 1st to 6th grade: "The students are highly motivated, and there is even a queue during recess to take the boards and pieces to play," she says.

Similarly, at Nuestra Señora del Rosario School in Torre Pacheco, they have successfully implemented it in the areas of Mathematics and Physical Education: "The experience has been very enriching, the children are very motivated to go to school, and this year they are also participating in different chess tournaments held in the Region. We also want to thank MARNYS for supporting this project so strongly," said Ramón Manuel García de Rosa, acting principal.

'Play Thinking with MARNYS' is part of the MARNYS TALENT corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, which includes the company's actions aimed at education, personal development, and professional growth. It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations' Agenda 2030, specifically SDG 4 Quality Education, promoting inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as lifelong learning opportunities for all.