We are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Gift of Chess, a charity organisation committed to transforming lives through the game of chess. This partnership unites two organisations that are passionate about using chess to spread opportunities, empower communities, and make a meaningful difference, especially in low-income and underserved areas.
Founded in 2020 by Russell Makofsky and based in New York, The Gift of Chess has a remarkable mission: to distribute one million chess sets worldwide by 2030. Tunde Onakoya, our founder, now serves as the Director of Educational Outreach on The Gift of Chess’s Board of Directors, helping to drive outreach efforts across Africa. Together, our collaboration has already expanded to over 30 African countries, enabling us to reach thousands of young people with the empowering potential of chess.
The Gift of Chess uses chess as a tool for social good, reaching individuals in schools, prisons, refugee camps, and underserved communities. Through this collaboration, The Gift of Chess and Chess in Slums Africa have successfully distributed 132,000 chess sets across Africa, bridging gaps in accessibility and opening doors to new opportunities for children and communities in need.
Our partnership is built on a shared belief: every child, regardless of their background, deserves a fair chance at success. By leveraging our networks, expertise, and local knowledge, we’ve made The Gift of Chess’s mission more achievable in African countries, ensuring that these valuable resources reach those who need them most.
Expanding Our Impact Across Africa
Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve made significant strides in several African nations. In 2021, for example, we partnered with The Gift of Chess to distribute 2,000 chess sets in Nairobi, Kenya. The initiative also laid the foundation for future chess academies in rural schools, villages, and urban slums.
In another impactful outreach, Chess in Slums Africa worked alongside The Gift of Chess in Kaya, Burkina Faso, to bring chess to an orphanage. Many of the children at this facility come from conflict-affected villages or broken families. Over two weeks, these children received not only chess instruction but also vocational training making their introduction to chess transformative.
This partnership has allowed us to extend our reach to a wide range of African countries, including Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Rwanda, Namibia, Lesotho, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Gabon, Togo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Botswana, Cape Verde, DRC, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Benin, Ghana, and Gambia. By working together, Chess in Slums Africa and The Gift of Chess have donated over 1,000 chess sets to each of these countries, enriching lives and fostering a brighter future for thousands of children.
We are profoundly grateful to The Gift of Chess for their commitment to serving humanity through chess. Their generosity and dedication have transformed our reach and impact in ways we once only dreamed of. Together, we’re demonstrating that a simple game can be a powerful tool for change.
This collaboration reminds us all that big changes often start in small places, and that with just 16 chess pieces, we can inspire a world of possibilities. We look forward to building on this partnership and continuing our mission to empower communities across Africa, one chess set at a time.
