Introducing the South African Chess Hub

Published by Paul Wilson
7 August 2020

History

The South African Chess Hub was founded in 2020 by Paul Wilson, a chess parent from Cape Town, who got involved in chess when his children started playing in 2019. It quickly became clear that the benefits of chess presented the ideal platform to stimulate social development in South Africa.

To maximise the impact of any chess-based initiatives we need to promote and grow the sport of chess, by increasing youth participation and assisting promising and talented chess players to achieve their maximum potential and in doing so develop more titled players in South Africa.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, despite being a Chartered Accountant by profession, Paul began developing an online chess community called the South African Chess Hub (www.chesshub.org.za). The primary goal of the online chess community is the promotion of chess in South Africa by offering an easy-to-use platform for chess players, administrators and event organisers to come together and celebrate the sport of chess.

Mission Statement

South African Chess Hub’s mission is to be the premier independent online chess community to promote and develop chess in South Africa as a sport, recreational and educational activity. The organisation seeks to increase participation in chess related activities in order to increase opportunities for South African chess players and coaches.

Planned Activities

The South African Chess Hub plans to achieve its principle objectives by, inter alia, the following activities:

  • To develop and maintain an online chess community and related social media accounts to promote all aspects of chess in South Africa.
  • To attract and manage donor funding for the purpose of supporting chess activities as a tool for social development across South Africa.
  • To facilitate co-operation between various partners who are willing to assist with the development of the game of chess in South Africa.
  • To host and facilitate chess related fundraising events and tournaments to promote chess in South Africa and increase the number of active players.
  • To partner and support the Promoting Pawns Chess Foundation NPC (Reg. Number: 2020/449444/08) or any other registered chess charities, school chess programmes and chess clubs to promote chess in South Africa.
  • To promote and support promising South African chess players to attend regional, national and international chess tournaments.
  • To train and develop chess players, coaches, arbiters and administrators.

What is Social Development

Social development is about improving the well-being of every individual in society so they can reach their full potential. The success of society is linked to the well-being of each and every citizen. Social development means investing in people. It requires the removal of barriers so that all citizens can journey toward their dreams with confidence and dignity. It is about refusing to accept that people who live in poverty will always be poor. It is about helping people so they can move forward on their path to self-sufficiency.

Promoting Pawns Chess Foundation NPC (Reg. Number: 2020/449444/08)

The South African Chess Hub is proud to be associated with the Promoting Pawns Chess Foundation NPC which was formed on 05 June 2020 with the mission to promote chess related activities as a means of intellectual development and social upliftment within the poor and needy communities of South Africa.

The company seeks to promote the playing of chess which has been scientifically shown to play a vital role in a child’s education helping learners to develop valuable reading and decision-making skills while also improving their ability to concentrate.The organisation seeks to use chess to uplift learners and young unemployed persons with life and business skills to positively contribute in their communities and secure permanent employment or financial security.

The Promoting Pawns Chess Foundation NPC will achieve its principle objectives by, inter alia, the following activities:

  • To attract and manage donor funding for the purpose of supporting chess activities as a tool for education and social development of poor and needy persons across South Africa.
  • To facilitate co-operation between various partners who are willing to assist with the development of the game of chess amongst poor and needy persons.
  • To host chess related fundraising events and tournaments.
  • To support poor and needy chess players with structured chess training and financial assistance to attend regional, national and international chess tournaments including travel costs, accommodation, uniforms, entry fees, meals and related costs.
  • To train and develop educators and youth within poor and needy communities as chess coaches, arbiters and administrators.
  • To equip schools, chess clubs, after-care centres, community centres or other facilities of a similar nature with chess equipment, for the benefit of the poor and needy.
  • Development of chess-based life skills programmes for poor and needy focusing on school going children, unemployed youths and persons with disabilities.
  • To promote chess activities in poor and needy communities by forming, supporting and offering financial assistance to chess clubs and school chess groups.
  • The provision of scholarships, bursaries, awards and loans for study for promising junior chess players from poor and needy communities.