In a groundbreaking decision aimed at promoting inclusivity and support for displaced persons, a team representing refugees will take part in the 45th Chess Olympiad set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024

The move follows a request made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the FIDE Council, which has now been officially approved.

The team of refugees will be carefully selected through a supervised process and endorsed by the UNHCR to compete in both the Open section and the Women’s section of the most prestigious team chess tournament. The selection process will be coordinated with the UNHCR and finalized on or before April 1 2024.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich noted the significance of this decision, stating, “In our complex global landscape where numerous people are left displaced and without homes, the inclusion of a refugee team in the Chess Olympiad is a testament to our commitment to support those in need. Chess has the power to offer solace and empowerment to individuals facing adversity, and this initiative shows our dedication to using chess as a tool for positive change.”

This landmark decision by FIDE comes after its inaugural participation in the Global Refugee Forum 2023, held from December 13-15 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. Anastasia Sorokina, Chairperson of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, and André Vögtlin, Chairman of FIDE Social Commission, represented FIDE at the event. Sorokina, who founded the Girls Chess Club in the Kakuma refugee camp, shared her experiences at the preliminary event focused on education, discussing the theme of “Protection, Gender, Sport”. She emphasized the transformative role of chess in aiding refugees to navigate life challenges and regain stability.

For years, FIDE has supported refugees, primarily through the Chess for Protection project, providing assistance to displaced communities. Implemented in partnership with various organizations, including the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Kenya Chess Federation, and the Kakuma Chess Club, the Chess for Protection project has been operating since August 2021. This initiative consolidates and expands chess-related activities in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, now entering its third year of operation.

The inclusion of a refugee team at the Chess Olympiad signifies a milestone in promoting inclusivity and leveraging chess as a tool for empowerment and support. FIDE remains committed to advancing such initiatives that harness the potential of chess to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the displaced worldwide.

Photos: Stev Bonhage

The Global Refugee Forum 2023 is taking place at Palexpo in Geneva (Switzerland) from December 13-15.

Anastasia Sorokina, Chairperson of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, and André Vögtlin, Chairman of FIDE Social Commission, participate in this event. It is the first time FIDE has taken part in the Global Refugee Forum. 

On December 12, Anastasia Sorokina spoke on the topic “Protection, Gender, Sport” at the preliminary event, the Education Campus. As the founder of the Girls Chess Club in the Kakuma refugee camp, she has implemented the protection and safety in the special Saturday online course program and gave an impressive account of it.

Held every four years, the Forum is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees. It is designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.

It enables states and stakeholders to announce concrete pledges and contributions, highlight progress made, share good practices and take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

For FIDE and the two FIDE Commissions in particular, the Forum provides an opportunity to engage with many countries and sports partner organizations to work together for the common good.

FIDE can present a functioning chess project in the Kakuma/Kalobeyei refugee camp, which can be multiplied and scaled up in other camps if the financial resources from the UNHCR are made available.

Chess has a great future worldwide. The crises in spots are increasing and expanding, and society is struggling with many psychological challenges such as dementia, drug and internet addiction, autism, as well as the various issues of prisons and refugee camps. Here, chess offers very cost-effective and viable solutions.

The game of chess greatly benefits society, as it offers people the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background, by gaining self-confidence, experiencing social integration and learning valuable life skills. It is the primary aim of the Chess for Protection project, implemented in collaboration with the International Chess Federation, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Kenya Chess Federation and the Kakuma Chess Club. The program, launched in August 2021, consolidates and develops chess-related activities in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. It is now entering its third year of running.

A chance to heal, develop and grow

“In FIDE, we really believe that chess is more than a game; it is a tool to improve the so-cial environment for millions of people. Kenya has the second biggest refugee camp and the third biggest slum in the world. Over 55% of the refugee population here are children and adolescents. Chess as a part of the extra-curricular activities will undoubtedly contribute to the well-being of youth, their psychological needs and their development. FIDE thanks UNHCR, LWC and Chess Kenya for their support in carrying out this very important social project,” says FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Forced to flee their homes, the refugees are exposed to extreme stress that may impact their psychosocial well-being. Most of them are not engaged in any income-generating activities, which leaves them vulnerable to risks of being involved in dangerous behaviour – crime, violence, drugs, and gang activities – as a means for coping with the situation. That is why it is critical to ensure youth are engaged in meaningful activities where they have a chance to heal, develop and grow. And chess can help with this.

“This is not just about chess; it’s about giving dreams to children and youth. This is particularly important when it comes to the lives of people in vulnerable situations. There’s strong evidence that chess increases analytical skills, self-esteem and the understanding between the cause and the consequence. Besides, it teaches not only how to win but also how to cope with defeat. Pupils attending chess classes are not only experiencing self-improvement and self-growth, they also bring enthusiasm and inspiration to their communities, acting as agents of positive changes there,” says Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board.

Over the last two years, more than 2,000 refugees were introduced to chess, 36 chess clubs were established in Kakuma refugee camp and Kaloboyei settlement, over 350 chessboards were bought for these clubs, 21 facilitators were trained and are now teach-ing chess in the region, as part of the Chess for Protection project. Besides, FIDE provided fourteen bicycles and one motorbike for the mobility of those trainers.

It did not take long to see the results of such efforts. “I’ve supported the project since August 2021, and it’s been such a rewarding experience for me. The chess program is having such a positive impact on the lives of the students – they are concentrated and focused at school, and they are competent problem solvers – all of them are becoming better students because of their participation in the chess group,” says Ina Guya, Protection Associate in Kakuma refugee camp. “Through the series of games and tournaments, the players have learned to manage their emotions, handle wins and losses gracefully, and cope with frustration when things don’t go as planned.”

Women’s empowerment through chess

In parallel with training the youth and kids in Kenyan schools, FIDE focuses on empowering young females and girls. Many of them find it difficult to meaningfully engage in education and extra-curricular activities due to negative cultural norms that often prevent them from equal access to opportunities. Chess for Protection project includes activities of the Girls Club, where, apart from playing chess, club members are meeting and communicating with successful women, reading and discussing books, attending painting workshops and many other classes.

Spearheaded by Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE WOM Commission, the project was first launched in 2021 in Angelina Jolie Primary School in Kakuma with an attendance of 40 students. After two years of running, it now includes three girls’ boarding schools in the region – Angelina Jolie Primary School, Morneau Shepell Secondary School and Bhar-El-Naam Primary School – with 250 refugee schoolgirls having chess classes twice a week. “When we embarked on this adventure, our goals were clear: to introduce chess to young girls and foster their creative development. And we are on the way to achieving that and so much more,” says Anastasia Sorokina.

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.

“We started with groups of girls who may not have known what chess was, but they embraced the opportunity to learn with open hearts and minds. Week by week, they learnt little by little, from how to move pieces and set up the board to the more complex strategies. Their determination to improve their personal chess skills was truly inspiring,” says IM Salome Melia, chess trainer of the Girl Club Project.

“We have had the pleasure of getting to know these girls and seeing their progress and growth of self-esteem and confidence. Their determination and positive attitude demonstrate that chess is not just a game; it’s a powerful instrument of transformation, a gate-way to a world of endless possibilities. The progress these girls have made fills us with happiness, and we can’t wait to see them in Kakuma in person one day,” adds another chess trainer, WGM Anastasiya Karlovich.

For some of these girls, chess is just a tool to improve their school performance, problem-solving, and analytical skills; others wish to become professional chess players.

“I have learned how to play chess in my school club, and I really like the game. It helps me a lot in my everyday life, improving my thinking and behaviour.

It is not so easy to learn the game, but I see the progress all the time. I like to play with my schoolmates and to win! It is great to be a part of the chess community, and I am sure, one day, I will be a big chess player known all around the world,” says Akech, a student of Morneau Shepell Secondary School.

As part of the Girl Club initiative, WGM Anastasiya Karlovich and WFM Martina Skogvall created a Curriculum  that can be used to teach chess in refugee camps. FIDE believes this is an essential step to scale the Chess for Protection project to a larger audience.

Refugee team at the 2024 Chess Olympiad

All people need goals to strive for, so chess life in the Kakuma and Kaloboyei regions of Kenya is not limited to chess classes only. Refugee camp students participate in various competitions, including their schools’ tournaments and regional chess events. In July 2023, the Girls Club students also participated in the Queens’ Online Chess Festival, a series of continental women’s online blitz tournaments organized by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess.

But the biggest event is yet to come. “We hope to see the first refugee team being part of the World Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. FIDE will seek advice from the International Olympic Committee on how to set up a team like they did for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Hopefully, some of the team members, who will be participating in this event along with players from 200 other national federations, will be representing Kakuma and Kaloboyei,” says FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Photos: Stev Bonhage