Ten Years Later: How Chess Is Changing Lives in Kenya

13 hours ago

3 min read

By Chris Major

President, Novato Chess Club

What began as a visit to a community in Kenya has grown into a lasting investment in young people, education, and opportunity.

Ten years ago, in 2016, I traveled to Migori, Kenya, with a simple desire to connect with young people through chess and baseball.

I had no idea where that experience would lead.

I certainly never imagined that a decade later, I would still be talking about those same young people, celebrating their accomplishments, and watching the community embrace the importance of youth programs.

But that is exactly what is happening.

From a Chessboard to a Community

When I first visited Migori, I had the opportunity to meet with local government officials and community members who were working to create more opportunities for their children.

They understood something that has always been central to our mission at the Novato Chess Club: games and play are powerful tools for learning, connection, and personal growth.

Chess teaches young people how to think critically, make decisions, and persevere through challenges. Baseball teaches teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of working toward a common goal. Both create opportunities for children to develop relationships that might never have existed otherwise.

During that visit, I witnessed the determination of people who wanted to build something meaningful for their community.

And now, ten years later, those efforts continue to bear fruit.

The Next Generation Is Taking Its Turn

Today, young chess players in Migori are participating in national tournaments, and more children are eager to join them.

Local government officials are also supporting efforts to expand chess, baseball, and other youth programs into schools.

Think about what that means.

A child who might never have had the opportunity to learn chess can discover a new passion. A young person who has never traveled beyond their community can compete in a tournament and meet children from other places.

And perhaps most importantly, they can begin to see possibilities for their future that they had never imagined.

That is the real power of this work.

We are continuing to support our friends in Migori, including a new commitment of $1,000 to help sustain their efforts.

We are also exploring opportunities to develop chessboard production in Africa, potentially creating a source of local income while making the game more accessible to young people.

There is much more work to be done, but the possibilities are exciting.

The Power of Relationships

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with freshman parents at Marin Catholic during their Christian service orientation.

I spoke about the importance of relationships and the need for young people to step outside their comfort zones.

We live in a world where it can be easy to remain within our own familiar circles. Yet some of life's most important lessons come when we sit across from someone whose experiences are different from our own.

That is what happens at the chessboard.

We learn to listen. We learn patience. We learn humility and perseverance.

We learn that our actions have consequences and that every challenge presents an opportunity to grow.

These lessons are just as meaningful for a child in Marin County as they are for a child in Migori, Kenya.

The language may be different. The circumstances may be different. But the opportunity to connect is the same.

Looking Toward the Future

As we begin another school year, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue this work, both here at home and with our friends around the world.

Our programs at St. Isabella are beginning again, and we are continuing to explore opportunities for outreach in Uganda and Ethiopia.

I often think about how a single chessboard can bring two people together.

Sometimes that connection lasts for the length of a game.

Sometimes it becomes a friendship.

And sometimes, as we are seeing in Kenya, it becomes the beginning of something that continues to grow ten years later.

To everyone who has supported the Novato Chess Club and our international outreach efforts, thank you for helping us make these connections possible.

The next move belongs to the young people we serve.

And I cannot wait to see where they take us!

Chris Major