FIDE’s initiative for refugees “Chess for Protection” launched in 2021 and brought remarkable results over the years, with perhaps the biggest yet to be seen during the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest – the Refugee Teams will be competing at a Chess Olympiad for the very first time!
Two Refugee Teams will participate in this prestigious event – one in the Women’s tournament and one in the Open section. The selection was made in June and the participants came from community chess clubs, primary and secondary schools, as well as the Girls Club.
To prepare for this monumental occasion, the teams began their online training sessions with experienced Latvian coach FM Sergejs Klimakovs. After a few weeks of training the teams on-line, FM Klimakovs is now visiting Kenya to conduct over the board trainings, meet them personally and prepare them for the experience of the Chess Olympiad.
His presence allows the players to receive personalized guidance and support, which is crucial for their preparation and development as competitors.
We believe that these training sessions will provide invaluable experiences for the Refugee Teams, equipping them not only for the Olympiad, but also for the many challenges they face. This opportunity represents a significant milestone in their journey, fostering personal growth and inspiring others within the refugee community.
The Chess for Protection – jointly executed by FIDE, UNHCR, LWF, Chess Kenya, and the Kakuma Chess Club – is aiming to make a change for the refugee community. So far, in this project in Kenya, over 2,000 children from 36 schools have taken part benefiting from training and mentorship that extend beyond the chessboard.
For us, as the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, it is very special that two girls from our project “The Girls Club” have qualified for the Refugee Team as well. We hope it will serve as a further sign for all the girls from the club that they can achieve incredible things, that they can be part of the most prestigious events and that they have the support and faith from our side and FIDE, and other powerful organizations.
The “Girls Club” project launched in August 2021, the club aims to help refugee girls learn chess, acquire new life skills, and find a way to express themselves, doing so in a safe environment.
Female students attend online lessons by WGM Anastasiya Karlovich (UKR) and IM Salome Melia (GEO). They also study and play chess with a local tutor. However they also have other activities, not only chess – like a book club and lectures with non-chess female mentors. The club operates in three girls’ boarding schools and has seen significant participation, with 250 schoolgirls attending chess classes twice a week.
