Join Us at the #SocialChess Conference in Budapest on September 21st!

Dear Social Chess Friends, enthusiasts, practitioners and ones who are ready to develop social chess projects in your respected region.

We are thrilled to invite you to our #SocialChess conference, taking place on September 21st in the Panorama Room III at the Intercontinental Budapest Hotel. This event will bring together passionate chess enthusiasts, social innovators, and thought leaders to explore the transformative power of chess in various social contexts.

Conference Highlights:

Chess for Protection: Hear from project leader Sonja Johnson, FIDE Social Commission member, representatives of the UNHCR and players from the FIDE Kakuma Refugee Team as they share their inspiring journey within the Chess for Protection project. Learn how chess has provided a pathway to the Chess Olympiad for refugees, fostering hope and resilience.

Chess for Freedom: Listen to a remarkable story from an inmate in the USA, who will share how chess transformed his life and how he now uses the game to empower others. This session will also include insights from Mikhail Korenman, FIDE Social Commission Councillor, who leads the Chess for Freedom project.

Infinite Chess: With the rise in cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), chess has been recognized for its positive impact. Discover how the Infinite Chess project is making a difference in the lives of those on the spectrum, as shared by families, coaches, and project coordinator Maria Tamkovich.

Chess for the Elderly: As our population ages, challenges like dementia and Alzheimer’s are becoming more prevalent. Learn about the therapeutic benefits of chess in promoting healthy aging from neurologists and experts involved in the Chess for Elderly project, which is still under development but holds great promise.

Chess for Life: Explore the Chess for Life initiative, which aims to investigate how chess can aid in the recovery from substance abuse disorders. In a world where addictions are on the rise, this project, still in its early stages, seeks to understand whether chess can be a tool for healing.

Why Attend?

• Gain Insights: Learn about existing chess projects and how they are making a social impact.
• Get Involved: Discover how you can start or support a project in your community.
• Network: Connect with like-minded individuals and professionals passionate about the social benefits of chess.
• Shape the Future: Participate in workshops designed to help shape the future of chess in social projects.

WE WILL HAVE THE LIVE BROADCAST! Please register here for the online participation: https://forms.gle/VVvYcdcoMq6jHEz66

Agenda:

9:00 – 9:10	Opening words Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Deputy Chair of FIDE Management Board)
	Opening words André Vögtlin (FIDE Social Commission Chair) “10 goals of FIDE in the future in the Social Commission of your Federation”
9:10 – 9:50	“Chess for Protection” Sonja Johnson (Project leader, Trinidad & Tobago Chess Association President) & Benard Wanjala (Social Commission Adviser, Chess Kenya Federation President) -Kakuma team representative -UNHCR representative
9:40 – 10:15	“Chess for Freedom” Mikhail Korenman (Social Commission Councillor, Project leader) -Chess for Freedom presentation -Chess for Freedom participant (video clipping) -Call to action to the countries not yet participating
10:15 – 10:30	Break
10:30 – 11:00	“Infinite Chess” Maria Tamkovich (FIDE Project Coordinator), Anastasia Sorokina (WOM Chairperson, Chair of Asian Social Commission, Infinite Project Leader, Chess for Protection Girls Club Project Leader) -Infinite Chess presentation -Family, chess trainer or school representative
11:00 – 11:20	“What are the chess benefits from a science perspective?”/ Chess for Elderly and Chess for Life Prabitha Urwyler (Social Commission Member, Project leader) and Susana Alexandra Gonçalves (Co-founder and President of Chess2All, Member of Fide WOM Commission) -Chess for Elderly presentation -Chess for Life presentation -Benefits from a science perspective for all projects
11:20 – 11:35	“Tell the story” Boris Bruhn (Social Commission member) -Most successful collabs -“Do good things and talk about it” – The number of followers is your social capital
11:35 – 11:55	Break
12:00 – 13:00	Workshops – Let’s shape the Future together -Setting up a Social Commission in the Federation / Region -Chess for Protection -Chess for Freedom -Infinite Chess -Chess for Elderly & Chess for Life

We look forward to seeing you at this impactful event!

-Social Commission members