Chess For Success

There is a unique and wonderful nonprofit, based in Portland Oregon, Chess For Success, whose mission is: "We use chess as a tool for building community, connection, and confidence."  (https://www.chessforsuccess.org/) ACT has partnered with CFS to bring the program to Muko, Uganda. Muko is the first place CFS has been established outside the U.S.! In addition to their mission of building community, connection, and confidence, what will happen in Muko is learning of critical thinking, problem-solving and strategy which are elements that will be strong additions to the education there. 

CFS provided 50 Chess boards and sets to ACT which we took to Uganda in August, 2022. Teachers from Muko High School are the coaches for the "club" under the excellent leadership of Mathias Atuheire, Science Teacher, and Rev Philip Ntwirenabo, Head Teacher. Interestingly enough, the leaders and coaches do not have to already know how to play chess to teach it to the students. The instructor guide is so comprehensive, they can all learn together. The students came to the first meeting very excited. They have continued through the program of learning. Here is what Mathias recently wrote to me:

"CFS is an exciting game here at MHS with Senior 1 and Senior 2 students (8th and 9th Grade) that have had a chance to be part of enjoying it very much excited and believe they have gained much skills in the short time that they have had in CFS. We closed the academic year before Christmas when they were close to 40 students and we hope when they report back in February 2023 we will have more join us especially from the incoming Senior 1 class."

Some of you may have seen the movie, The Queen of Katwe, about a young girl (Phiona Mutesi) from a village in Uganda who learned the game of chess and became a chess champion playing globally. While the goal is not to make these kids Chess champions, we hope to invite her to travel from Kampala to Muko sometime to share in the excitement of this incredible program with the students. 

“The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.”                                                                                                 – Benjamin Franklin

May the kids of Muko, continue learning and playing Chess to better their lives!

Don't forget to visit our online SHOP with beautiful handcrafts made by the artisans in Muko!