On February 25th, 2025, Promoting Queens, in her custom of championing a path for girls and women through chess, opened her doors beyond the borders of comfort. This push birthed Promoting Queens Chess Club in Mombasa, Kenya.

Our inaugural chess class saw a modest attendance of only two girls. While we hoped for a larger turnout, the presence of these two dedicated students was enough to validate our commitment and begin the journey, and we did!

Fast forward to today, and that small spark lit by two girls has grown into a powerful blaze. Our chess club now has 48 girls, with 33 of them actively training and competing.

One of our girls, Iwoku Vanessa, recently earned her first FIDE rating of 1443 — an extraordinary milestone in such a short time.

Now imagine what 33 determined girls, full of talent and drive, could achieve with the right tools and opportunities.

It's now been six incredible months of growth and progress. We've been working to help these young Kenyan girls see the queens they are inside.

But we want to do more…

Why We’re Raising Funds

Girls should never be afraid to be smart.— Emma Watson

We call our girls queens because that’s what they are: beautiful, smart, and they should not be afraid to be what they are –Royalty.

We cannot do this alone.

So far, we are thankful for the help and guidance of Mr Kosi Danford in Mombasa, Kenya, who has been instrumental in keeping our queens engaged in their chess classes. We are thrilled to welcome our newest partners at ChessKid, who have generously given our girls free access to their world-class online training platform.

But here's the heartbreaking reality: most of the girls lack the devices and internet access needed to consistently use these invaluable training tools.

That’s why we’ve launched this GoFundMe campaign to provide:

️ 33 tablets so every active player can train at home and in the club

6 months of internet access so they can stay connected to lessons and chess communities

♟️ Tournament support to help them attend FIDE-rated competitions, including one this month

With your help, we can do more.

What Your Donation Makes Possible

Your donation can make a real difference. Together, we can empower these young queens, giving them the tools they need to master the game and build a brighter future.

A Glimpse of Promoting Queens

This campaign is just one part of a larger vision. At Promoting Queens, we're dedicated to creating safe, inspiring spaces where girls can discover their potential—on the chessboard and in life.

What started with just two girls has become a vibrant community of young women who are learning to think boldly, dream bigger, and believe in themselves.

Support this journey today on GoFundMe and learn more about our mission at [www.promotingqueens.org](http://www.promotingqueens.org)

Your generosity can be the turning point in a girl’s life. Together, let’s give them the tools to grow, compete, and shine.

Thank you for believing in them.