Beau Vallon secondary school receives chess sets from SCF |03 August 2023

Seychelles Chess Federation chairman Benjamin Hoareau (standing) running the workshop (Photo: Contributed)

In their continuous effort to ignite chess once again in schools, the Seychelles Chess Federation has donated chess sets to the Beau Vallon secondary school.

This followed a request from the programme manager of Survival Ark Foundation (SAF) Theresia Julie on behalf of the school.

The chess sets are to be used to engage students who misbehave on school grounds or who are involved in frequent misconducts. The presentation of chess sets was followed by a one-hour induction workshop whereby the students were briefed on how the game is played, the name of the pieces and how to move them on the board.

Speaking to Sports NATION Ms Julie expressed her gratitude towards the Seychelles Chess Federation (SCF) for the generous gesture and claimed it would help them with their school programmes. “We do volunteer work with the schools whereby we do interventions with troubled students, engage them in different types of activities and mentor them to change their ways,” said Ms Julie.

The SAF works in partnership with different schools, namely Bel Ombre primary and Beau Vallon secondary whereby they work with students who misbehave in schools.

She said through the donation made by the SCF, she anticipates to spark an interest for chess in them and in doing so identify hidden talents. “Many have shown great interest and there are some who have shown skills also,” said Ms Julie who added that this is a good thing for the school which does not have a chess club.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the school, Ms Julie explained that the SAF has a strong partnership with the chess federation, helping students in capacity building and life skills during school holidays.

Ms Julie shared that it has been over a month since they have been volunteering at the Beau Vallon secondary school and they are currently working with a group of 20 students aged 14 and 15 years old. She said they conducted programmes whereby they help the kids to refrain from social ills.

Survival Ark Foundation has been partnering with the school since its launch back in 2016 and they have also partnered with Ecole Française and International School.

Ms Julie has also urged other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to lend a helping with projects that will help those who misbehave in school and those who have few parental supervision during school holidays.

Neil Sirame