Forgotten children still matter.

We are a community of dreamers fighting for change. We are not armed with weapons that destroy but chess sets that empower. Our greatest tool is the stories of hope we tell because through those simple stories we can inspire global hope and opportunity.

I feel compelled to share what happened today. We had planned to distribute chess sets at EPHATA’s secondary school, where many of the students participating in our program are deaf, although nearly 40% can speak. What we had not planned was to include the primary school, where all the children are deaf. As we were leaving, the primary school teacher followed me and explained that her children also wanted to be included. I was in tears, asking myself how, in a mission dedicated to children, I had almost forgotten them. Was it because they were deaf? Had we unintentionally left them behind because of their disability? I was heartbroken and disappointed in myself. I promised the teacher that we would return on Tuesday, especially for these children. Back at the factory, I told the team that we would dedicate our next production to them and document the process as a reminder of a moment when we nearly failed to live up to our commitment. We work for children, especially those who are too often left behind. Sometimes, we may lose sight of our mission, but recognizing our mistakes reminds us why we started in the first place. Deep down, I believe each of us simply wants to leave this world a little fairer than we found it. And I deeply respect that @realBashige

Calling all builders, makers, dreamers and entrepreneurs. We need all hands on deck!! We are transforming waste plastic into recycled chess sets in the most unlikely of places. These sets are used for education to children living in these communities as seen here in Goma, DRC

We have reached an important milestone in our journey. Today, we introduced locally manufactured chess sets at EPHATA, a school that also supports people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This is a significant step forward for us, as it allows us to reach and include another community through chess and education. We continue to expand our distribution efforts while maintaining production to reach even more schools and communities. @SogaChess

In parership with @SogaChess, our factory in Goma DRC has now produced 1,500 chess sets. These sets have reached many new communities including this school for the deaf.

Recently these chess sets were discarded waste plastic. Through our local manufacturing efforts led by @SogaChess, they have been transformed into chess sets (Kings & Queens) which are being used as a tool for education & opportunity among the children displaced by war in Goma.

Children in Goma, DRC engage is chess classes led by @SogaChess. The chess sets used for the lessons were manufactured locally in Goma using recycled waste plastic. With a production rate of 40 chess sets per day, we hope to scale access to chess education across the DRC which has a growing population of over 115 million people, many of them children.

Democratizing access to education.

Any child who finds their seat at the table, with a simple chess set placed in-front, can have an opportunity to realize the strength of their own mind.

We must build. Build things of value. Value in our local communities. That command a fair price and that will enhance our communities. We need jobs, we need industry, we need opportunity, we need hope. That can be found in a simple chess sets

Now I’m knights, bishops, Kings and Queens. A tool for education and opportunity with incredible value.

Only recently I was waste plastic, without value or purpose.

In DRC chess is rapidly spreading, reaching children who have been displaced by war. In the midst of that very chaos, they are finding hope through access to chess. Notably for the very 1st time, the chess sets they are playing on were manufactured in Goma by @SogaChess Thread!