In 2020, My mom and I visited and volunteered at Agape AIDS Orphanage in Hyderabad, India. Agape provides a home, education and love to kids that have or have been affected by Aids or HIV. When we were there, we were able to meet these incredible children, who, despite their extraordinarily difficult and haunting pasts, greeted us with huge smiles and happiness. We were able to work around the orphanage, taking down their measurements for growth development required by the government when on HIV medication, making sponsorship videos of the children for their website, and helping out around the school and dorms. We did everything from assisting with the youngest of kids in the prep rooms, to reading books to junior school students, to beading in the dorms with the senior school girls, and taking the university students for ice cream. It's hard to describe the love and mix of emotions that came alongside being there with these amazing children, in this amazing orphanage, but it truly was a life-changing experience that I won’t soon forget. Ever since we returned, our family has been sponsoring the education and living costs of 4 kids there, and we worked hard to additionally collect sponsors for many more incredible kids!

Through Battle of the Boards, I am hoping to further give back to this amazing place. I would like to use any money that I can raise to purchase these very deserving kids a large outdoor chess set, where they can team up and work together to learn and watch the game of Chess. Additionally, I would like to be able to provide the orphanage with smaller individual chess sets, so that the students could play more serious, one on one games, to further their chess abilities. I believe learning the skill and game of chess is a benefit to anyone, of any age, class, position or location. I can already see the smiles and excitement that this will bring to the hundreds of students there who truly deserve nothing but the best. Further, I will be offering free online zoom classes to the students of Agape after they have received these chess supplies, so that they can learn and have fun with the game. Thank you SO MUCH in advance, for making this dream come true.