Chess Academy
Donation protected
Northern Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world, which is at about 18 million kids. The region is bedeviled with all kinds of vices like banditry, abductions, terrorism, prostitution, drug abuse, infant mortality, malnutrition etc.
Yakkon Damaryam has been teaching chess to these very children in North Eastern Nigeria, for over a decade. Most of them are victims of terrorism carried out by religious extremists. Due to the high level of poverty and illiteracy in the North, there are misconceptions about Chess, which associate it to gambling and idolatry. The society as a whole frowns upon chess and only few people have embraced it for its many benefits. In order to change these misconceptions, youth players need to attend national and international tournaments regularly, so that our society can see the direct benefits of the game. Chess provides children with the capacity to think, the ability to demand respect and an identity separate from where they were born.
In theory, Chess is a very cheap and highly effective way of empowering less privileged children, as it is known as the game of life. Transportation fares, hotel bills, registration fees, etc. present a great barrier for us to develop our children of the academy into champions. Yakkon has been making efforts over the years to raise Grandmasters but this effort has been frustrated by lack of funds and equipment to take part in local and FIDE (Federal Internationale D'eches) tournaments.
Please, support!
Yakkon asks for your help!
Yakkon Damaryam has been teaching chess to these very children in North Eastern Nigeria, for over a decade. Most of them are victims of terrorism carried out by religious extremists. Due to the high level of poverty and illiteracy in the North, there are misconceptions about Chess, which associate it to gambling and idolatry. The society as a whole frowns upon chess and only few people have embraced it for its many benefits. In order to change these misconceptions, youth players need to attend national and international tournaments regularly, so that our society can see the direct benefits of the game. Chess provides children with the capacity to think, the ability to demand respect and an identity separate from where they were born.
In theory, Chess is a very cheap and highly effective way of empowering less privileged children, as it is known as the game of life. Transportation fares, hotel bills, registration fees, etc. present a great barrier for us to develop our children of the academy into champions. Yakkon has been making efforts over the years to raise Grandmasters but this effort has been frustrated by lack of funds and equipment to take part in local and FIDE (Federal Internationale D'eches) tournaments.
Please, support!
Yakkon asks for your help!
Organizer
Yakkon Damaryam
Organizer
Fridley, MN
