"Chess for Change: One Move at a Time" financed under Interreg Hungary – Romania programme reached over 100 disadvantaged children in Nyíregyháza and Satu Mare. Chess was used to foster self-confidence, social inclusion, bridging gaps between vulnerable Roma children and their peers.
Interreg cooperation programme is transforming children's lives through chess
- 17 September 2024
Picture a young child from a disadvantaged community discovering chess - a game that cultivates strategic thinking, patience, and self-confidence. Through the efforts of combined Romanian and Hungarian partners: the associations CREST and STEA and the DÁViD Sports Club, the cooperation project has reached over 100 disadvantaged children in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, and Satu Mare, Romania.
The Chess Start Project, financed under Interreg Romania-Hungary Programme, has promoted social inclusion, strengthened self-esteem, and fostered a sense of community among children from vulnerable Roma families, with chess serving as the core activity for building essential life skills.
The cooperation initiative went beyond chess, beyond the game, and beyond the project team. In its essence it promoted core European Union values such as non-discrimination and equal opportunities by addressing gaps in life skills development between children facing difficulties and their peers in the cross-border area.
This project has had a significant impact not only at the regional level but also on a deeply personal level. It brought joy to the lives of children who have faced difficult challenges, helping them build self-confidence.
The project is one of the 25 finalists in the REGIOSTARS 2024 competition and it can be voted for on the official REGIOSTARS website.