Checkmates

I am the service leader for the Checkmates service and I have been since 9th grade. Within this service, we use Chess as a tool to interact with kids from underprivileged backgrounds with the aim of developing their confidence and critical thinking skills. Chess is an ideal interactive tool as it allows for numerous teaching moments, occasionally genuinely difficult problems, and allows for light, healthy competition. We always get students to justify their less obvious moves, and occasionally to work together and discuss moves, to build both the confidence and their critical thinking skills.This year from a purely service perspective I aim to teach a new group of kids how to play chess, how to consider multiple possibilities to create broad and specific plans then explain and defend them to us and each other. From a more technical perspective, this year I am working towards building an able and competent team of people within the service who can be counted on to consistently join the service. This is important because in previous years the service has largely been me micromanaging a group of roughly 20 kids, not very efficient, and also because I will have to leave in 2020 and I want the service to last even when Im gone. Part of this process is choosing able people, and gradually rewarding initiative with increased freedom and responsibility. Here are some good moments from the service, the first just a fun competitive moment, the second more focused on the visual dialogue and teaching side of the service.

(Videos by Gecko Net)