Raise Chess Academy

In Uganda, refugee youth face trauma, language barriers, and limited opportunities every day. Chess offers them confidence, community, and hope for a brighter future. This Giving Tuesday, your gift is One Move to Change a Life. ✔ $10 – One month of food for a child ✔ $25 – Chess kit ✔ $50 – Classroom materials: books, pens, whiteboard markers ✔ $100 – Emergency medical care for a child for one month ✔ $200 – A youth chess tournament ♟️ Make Your Move and Donate today to Change a Life: reframe.network/donate-now.php…

Back home in Nigeria, my heart is full of joy and gratitude. First, I would like to thank God for this life-changing opportunity. My time in the United States was nothing short of a blessing. From the culture to the food to the system of government, every part of it opened my eyes to new experiences. Most importantly, the people I met, from coaches to kids I played with, inspired me and taught me lessons that will stay with me forever, do you know I played an eight-year-old boy 6 times and did not win any game against him?, yes I did and I cried😂 (don’t tell anyone o), but one think about him Is that he is resilient, probably the most resilient eight-year-old I have ever met, and that is something I learnt from him. Spending my summer in the United States was more than just about chess; it was about growth, exposure, and gaining a new perspective. I had the opportunity to experience a different culture, a different rhythm of life, and a system that challenged me to think more broadly. From the food to the environment, from the discipline in daily life to the way communities are built, I saw a world that gave me fresh ideas about what’s possible. And guess what, Chess was my bridge into this experience. Every tournament I played, every training session with my coaches, and even the casual games with kids and peers keep proving to me that the board is more than 64 squares, it's a global language with lots of opportunities if you can speak it (I am not saying you should learn Chess by fire by force😂). I may not have reached my target of becoming a USCF Master this summer, but I came back with something far greater: wisdom, resilience, and clarity on what the next stage of my journey demands. Also, yesterday marked the 7th anniversary of Chess in Slums Africa, a movement that has changed and continues to change my life in the best possible ways. To think that a vision born 7 years ago could give me, and countless others, the chance to dream, travel, and grow is powerful. Chess in Slums has been a catalyst, not just for chess, but for hope. I am proud to represent this movement wherever I go. Happy birthday, Chess in Slums Africa. To Coach Logan, GM Lenderman, @TIGRAN_SPINOZA @thegiftofchess, @tyronedavisiii, @Tunde_OD, @chessinslums, the ICN Camp family, and everyone who believed in me, thank you. You’ve been a big part of my story, and I carry your support with me as I return home. To everyone who opened doors for me, supported me, or believed in my journey, thank you. You’ve given me more than opportunities; you’ve given me courage. This summer has ended, but the dream continues. I may not be a Master yet, but I am better, wiser, and hungrier for what’s ahead. I return home not with disappointment, but with determination. The dream remains alive. The journey continues.♟✨

♟👏 "Chess Gives Us Hope" | Girls from Kakuma Refugee Camp Share Their Stories In celebration of World Refugee Day, girls from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in 🇰🇪 Kenya share why they love chess, what the game means to them, and how it makes them feel safe and empowered. This video is part of the FIDE Chess for Protection Girls Club, run in partnership with UNHCR and supported by Chess Kenya. @FIDESocialChess

Breaking by break, stone by stone, Stwp by step this is how the strongest houses we see are made, so the greatest and strongest chess champions. From nothing to something this is what @RaiseChess @thegiftofchess is creating for these war escape young people in Nakivale Refugee Settlement