FIDE is proud to kick off 2025, the Year of Social Chess, with a groundbreaking event: the World Social Chess Initiatives Marathon!
The Year of Social Chess aims to bring chess to diverse communities and settings, including prisons, refugee camps, elderly care homes, and addiction recovery centers. By highlighting chess as a tool for social good, FIDE will champion projects that promote cognitive development, community building, and rehabilitation.
On January 19, 2025, we’ll gather online to celebrate the power of chess in making the difference. This event welcomes anyone passionate about using chess for social good—whether you’re leading an initiative, seeking inspiration, or hoping to connect with like-minded changemakers.
Why Attend?
- Discover innovative social chess programs from around the world.
- Connect with global change-makers.
- Participate in engaging discussions, live polls, and interactive networking sessions.
Event Details
- Date: January 19, 2025
- Time: Two slots for global convenience:
- Slot 1: 9:00–12:00 CET
- Slot 2: 17:00–20:00 CET
Format
The event will feature short, engaging presentations (10 minutes max) followed by interactive discussions. Attendees can participate in live polls and breakout networking rooms.
Register here: forms.gle/MPDqnNoW3SyYGhNw8
Don’t miss this chance to make 2025 a year of impact through chess!
Additional Workshop
Following the presentations, FIDE Social Commission is planning a workshop titled "Monitoring and Evaluation" to help initiatives better understand their direction and growth. This session will be led either by the UNHCR or Sonja Johnson herself.
Featured Speakers
- Stephen Deburu (Chess Inda Hood, Papua New Guinea)
- Initiative: Using chess to combat drug abuse and crime among youth.
- Duration: Started as a chess club in February 2024 (10 months ago).
- Beneficiaries: Community members, particularly youth.
- Rafael Córdoba Baule (Dragon Chess Academy, Panama)
- Initiative: Teaching chess to children and youth from scratch.
- Duration: Ongoing since 2019, held annually at the beginning of the year.
- Beneficiaries: Children and youth in Chitré, Panama.
- Goals for the Event: Visibility and learning opportunities.
- Nicolas Carbonell (Federation Burkinabè de Jeu d'Échecs, Burkina Faso)
- Initiative: HUMANICHESS – Training children in refugee-dense areas to improve education and social integration.
- Planned Start: 2025 (FBJE recognized by authorities in October 2024).
- Beneficiaries: Underprivileged and refugee children in slums.
- Goals for the Event: Visibility, inspiration, regional imitation, and attracting sponsors.
- Alexandre Vergara (Chegança Instituto, Brazil)
- Initiative: Quebrada Viva Project – Using chess for social inclusion and development of vulnerable children and adolescents.
- Recent Activities: Pilot project in November 2024, featuring transformative community meetings.
- Goals for the Event: Discover innovative programs, connect globally, and strengthen their initiative.
The final list of participants will be confirmed by January 10, 2025.
