Donors & Partners

Eight Moves Ahead

In a small, sunlit mud hut in Ubuntu, Shaka stared at a broken chessboard. His pieces were worn, his king lacked a cross, and only a few pieces remained. Yet Shaka wasn’t focused on the board before him. He envisioned eight moves ahead.

He foresaw his knight forking his opponent’s rook and queen. He saw a winning path where others saw defeat.

This vision defines the Ubuntu Chess Club. But Shaka’s journey nearly never began.

Uganda is rich with sharp, strategic minds. Yet without mentorship, resources, and opportunity, much talent goes unrealized. For many children, the future is a game played defensively, just to survive. We believe they should be taught to win.

We didn’t just form a chess club. We built a strategic incubator for future leaders. Using chess, we teach life skills:

Last year, with a donated chess set from partners like you, Shaka entered his first national tournament. Facing tough opponents, Shaka—the boy with the broken board—triumphed.

He earned more than a trophy. He gained confidence, a scholarship, and the belief that his mind is his greatest asset. Now, he mentors others, teaching them to think eight moves ahead.

This is Just One Game. The Tournament Continues.

For every Shaka, hundreds of children in rural areas await their chance to play. They brim with potential, needing only a board, a mentor, and opportunity.