The Year of Social Chess launched with its first event – an online conference shedding light on innovative ways chess is driving social inclusion and empowering communities.
On January 19, The World Social Chess Initiatives Marathon gathered coaches, scientists and NGO representatives who use chess in social inclusion projects to discuss their work and challenges. Spanning multiple countries and case examples, the participants of the conference shared their experiences, highlighting different perspectives on the role chess can play in social inclusion.
Our amazing partner Kanthi Devi Sarjoo, a speech and language therapist at Brown’s School (South Africa) joined the Marathon with profound interview about her chess journey.
Following Sarjoo’s involvement in the Infinite Chess Project in 2021 in partnership with KZN Chess Academy and Mr. Erick Takawira, she began teaching chess to children with speech and language impediments at her school. The program has been so successful that in a school where children struggle to speak, “the nosiest classroom is the chess classroom. For a speech therapist, this is like a party.” The project began with 3 classes, ages from 8 till 13 years and 28 children in the project. Last year, this increased to 32.
The benefits extend well beyond the board. Sarjoo noted her first-hand experience of seeing children in her school initiate conversations, a skill that’s often challenging for those with speech impairments. Parents, too, have noticed. “They see chess as a tool to enhance social interaction,” she explained.
Introducing chess as a formal lesson wasn’t without its hurdles. Convincing the school’s leadership to replace traditional speech therapy sessions with chess required determination and a clear explanation of its benefits. “We had to put in the effort to make this happen, but the support from FIDE and the Infinite Chess team has been invaluable,” she said.
Funding remains a challenge, particularly in South Africa, but Sarjoo remains optimistic. “We’re resourceful, though there’s definitely room for improvement,” she admitted.
For Sarjoo, the rewards are undeniable. She spoke about a once nonverbal child who pointed to the chess lesson on a timetable—a significant breakthrough. Another student, shy and almost silent, stood up during a class to solve a chess puzzle on the board – the first time she showed initiative. “She was engaged, following along all the time, and it was incredible to see her step forward like that.”
Sarjoo emphasized the importance of creating awareness, and her school does this through social media. But the ultimate goal is larger still: research. “We need evidence-based research to spread these projects and bring chess into every home with a child on the spectrum,” she said, urging the global chess community to support this endeavor.