2018 All-girls Chess Camp
Donation protected
The All-Girls Chess Camp is a program created to help combat the enormous gender gap in the internationally renowned game of chess. Looking at the top 100 players in the world, there is only one woman. If we look at the top 100 players in the US, there are only 2 .
Part of the cause of this large gap is the lack of a network for young girls playing the game. Often times, they feel as though they are the only girl playing in their community and this then drives them away from a young age, towards what society has deemed more "girly" activities.
I first started playing chess through the after-school program at my elementary school, where the gender populations were pretty balanced. When I moved away from this neighborhood a year later, I was the only girl who still played actively. Whenever I participated in open tournaments, or even grade level nationals, I was always one of the only girls/women in the room.
To combat this problem, the camp aims to increase the population of young girls interested in playing this game that has both immediate and future benefits - the pride from winning a game and being able to call oneself a chess player, and the patience, logic, and analytical skills the game further develops in one's academic life. By creating an environment where young girls get to meet their peers and be taught by some of the top junior female players of their age, the camp gives them both a network and role models.
In order to further battle potential barriers into the world of chess for these young girls, each one also gets to walk away with their own chess set (board signed by the coaches of said camp), a beginners instruction book, and a t-shirt.
Unfortunately, since the camp is entirely free to participants, the camp does not yet pay for itself. As such, any donation towards providing the future campers with the opportunity to play would be appreciated.
For some exciting news, the camp is currently undergoing the incorporation process to officially be a nonprofit and increase efficiency for expansion. As such, I want to give thanks to everyone who has helped in last four (!!) years, but we also must keep working hard in order to make sure that the camp is still alive and thriving when the nonprofit status is finally established.
Our website: chess4girls.org
Contacte Us: [email redacted]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chess4girls/
** DISCLAIMER: Since we are not yet an official non-profit, the funds are currently be sent to me but will be guaranteed to be used on the camp**
Part of the cause of this large gap is the lack of a network for young girls playing the game. Often times, they feel as though they are the only girl playing in their community and this then drives them away from a young age, towards what society has deemed more "girly" activities.
I first started playing chess through the after-school program at my elementary school, where the gender populations were pretty balanced. When I moved away from this neighborhood a year later, I was the only girl who still played actively. Whenever I participated in open tournaments, or even grade level nationals, I was always one of the only girls/women in the room.
To combat this problem, the camp aims to increase the population of young girls interested in playing this game that has both immediate and future benefits - the pride from winning a game and being able to call oneself a chess player, and the patience, logic, and analytical skills the game further develops in one's academic life. By creating an environment where young girls get to meet their peers and be taught by some of the top junior female players of their age, the camp gives them both a network and role models.
In order to further battle potential barriers into the world of chess for these young girls, each one also gets to walk away with their own chess set (board signed by the coaches of said camp), a beginners instruction book, and a t-shirt.
Unfortunately, since the camp is entirely free to participants, the camp does not yet pay for itself. As such, any donation towards providing the future campers with the opportunity to play would be appreciated.
For some exciting news, the camp is currently undergoing the incorporation process to officially be a nonprofit and increase efficiency for expansion. As such, I want to give thanks to everyone who has helped in last four (!!) years, but we also must keep working hard in order to make sure that the camp is still alive and thriving when the nonprofit status is finally established.
Our website: chess4girls.org
Contacte Us: [email redacted]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chess4girls/
** DISCLAIMER: Since we are not yet an official non-profit, the funds are currently be sent to me but will be guaranteed to be used on the camp**
Organizer
Alice Dong
Organizer
Princeton, NJ
