Chess for 5,000 Refugee Children: An International Initiative
Chess as a Tool for Support: Initiative to Give 5,000 Refugee Children Access to the Game
Chess is increasingly moving beyond traditional tournament halls. For some, it is a sport; for others, an educational tool. For children who have experienced forced displacement, the game can offer a way to restore a sense of stability, connection and the familiarity of childhood.
This idea is at the heart of international projects aimed at expanding access to chess among children from refugee families. One of the most prominent examples is Chess for Protection, a programme implemented by FIDE in cooperation with partners including UNHCR. The project was launched in 2021 at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and has gradually expanded its reach.
Why Chess?
For a child who has been forced to leave home, ordinary activities can have much greater significance than might initially seem. A chessboard provides a clear structure: there are rules, a sequence of actions, decisions to make and opportunities to calmly analyse mistakes.
FIDE identifies the development of concentration, logical and strategic thinking, social skills and the psychological well-being of young refugees among the programme's objectives. Chess also allows children to interact with one another regardless of their backgrounds or language differences.
The goal, therefore, is not simply to teach a child how a knight moves or how to deliver checkmate. The objective is much broader — to create a safe environment where children can learn, play and interact with others.
The Experience of Chess for Protection
The Chess for Protection project was launched by FIDE and UNHCR in Kakuma in 2021. Its implementation also involves the Lutheran World Federation, the Kenya Chess Federation and the Kakuma Chess Club. Initially, the programme was designed to reach around 1,600 students, with another 800 people expected to benefit indirectly.
Today, the programme reaches more than 2,300 primary and secondary school students in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei areas. In addition to regular chess lessons, the project includes tournaments, training, activities focused on girls, and the provision of chess equipment to schools and community centres.
Particular attention is given to the Girls' Chess Club, which combines chess sessions with additional educational and mentoring activities. This allows the game to serve not only as a sport but also as a platform for building confidence and social skills.
An Opportunity for 5,000 Children
The goal of initiatives of this kind is to make access to chess much broader and give thousands of children living in difficult circumstances an opportunity to take part in the game.
The importance of expanding such programmes is particularly clear against the educational challenges faced by displaced communities. Chess initiatives can therefore become part of a broader support system. They do not replace education or humanitarian assistance, but they can create an additional environment for learning, communication and personal development.
Chess also has an important practical advantage: getting started does not require complex infrastructure. A board, a set of pieces, basic teaching materials and someone capable of organising lessons can be enough.
From Kakuma to the International Chess Stage
In 2026, the programme reached another important stage of development. For the first time, refugee players were given the opportunity to compete as organised teams at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.
Following a selection process, five men and five women were chosen to represent the refugee team. FIDE covered expenses related to travel, accommodation, meals, local transportation and visas.
This demonstrates how such a programme can evolve: from initial lessons in a refugee camp and school chess clubs to competitive opportunities and international representation.
The Chessboard as a Space of Opportunity
The greatest value of such projects is not measured by the number of games played. Chess gives children the opportunity to make their own decisions and see the consequences of their choices.
FIDE highlights the role of chess in developing memory, attention, logic, creative thinking, independence and self-confidence. The game also creates opportunities for socialisation and shared activities.
For a child who has had to leave a familiar environment, even an ordinary chess game can become a small point of stability: there are clear rules, an opponent to play against, and an outcome shaped by the player's own decisions.
The Bigger Goal — Making Chess More Accessible
Initiatives for refugee children demonstrate just how far chess can extend beyond professional sport. A board and 32 pieces can become tools for education, communication and social integration.
The experience of Chess for Protection already shows that this model can work within refugee communities. The next step is to expand such programmes, train new coaches, provide children with equipment and establish sustainable chess clubs in places where access to conventional educational and sporting opportunities is limited.
Ultimately, the issue is not simply how many children will learn to play chess. It is about giving thousands of young people access to an activity built around rules, choices, interaction and opportunities for development. That is why the goal of providing 5,000 refugee children with access to chess could become an important part of the broader movement to make the game accessible to everyone.