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CHESS FOR PEACE PROGRAM

By Dr. Mikhail Korenman

FIDE International Organizer

            The vision of the program is to establish a long-term relationship among the young people around the globe as the vehicle by which to promote mutual understanding of shared problems. In addition, we expect this relationship to make substantial contributions to general educational efforts as well as helping program participants to foster understanding of the world.

            12^th World Chess Champion and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Anatoly Karpov want to continue to promote peace and education through the Chess for Peace initiative.  The International Educational and Cultural Services, Inc, a non-profit organization, initiated the program on April 12^th, 2005 at the World Champion Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess in Lindsborg , Kansas.  Mr. Karpov has a long history of working for humanitarian causes, including his work with the International Association for Peace Foundations and as UNICEF Ambassador in Europe.

            The Chess for Peace initiative is designed to promote peace throughout the world by bringing secondary school students from different countries together to learn how to play chess and to establish lasting friendships.

            On October 29, 2005, former President and Nobel Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev launched the Chess for Peace program in the U.S. We hope to have numerous political figures from different countries to assist with promotion of the Chess for Peace initiative and to spend some time with young people, playing chess and introducing them to the global world.

JIMMY CARTER

September 6, 2005

To Dr. Mikhail Korenman                                               

Thank you for your invitation to participate in the Chess for Peace event at the Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess in Lindsborg , Kansas . I appreciate the opportunity to share in this important project with President Gorbachev.

Unfortunately, previous commitments with The Carter Center make it impossible for me to be with you on October 29, 2005. I am grateful for your hard work to promote peace. Please accept my best wishes for a successful event.

Sincerely,

            The International Educational and Cultural Services, Inc, organized the first chess-based scholastic exchange program. A group of 54 American scholastic chess players, their parents, and coaches, led by the U.S. Chess Federation Chairwoman and former World Woman Chess Champion Susan Polgar, visited Moscow in March 2006. 

            A group of scholastic chess players from Chicago, led by the U.S. Chess Champion Alexandr Onischuk and GM Yury Shulman, visited Mexico with the humanitarian help group in Summer 2006. We would like to continue the exchange program with other chess schools/clubs around the world, and to encourage other chess schools and clubs to join the program.

            During the Fall 2007/08 academic year, groups of students from different countries are competing with students from other countries via the Internet.  This will differ from the usual chess competition in that students will not necessarily be chosen for their chess playing ability.  Personal information will be shared between the participants to foster friendships as well as gamesmanship.

            We are currently in a second year of developing a chess program for young people in the  Chicago-Westside area for students-at-risk.  Dr. Mikhail Korenman is teaching chess to a group of more than 30 students at CCA Academy, one of the Chicago-based alternative high schools for students who were dropped from the regular high schools. 

            We are working together with the Bogotá (Columbia) city chess league to establish a Chess Against the Drugs program (see attached correspondence with the Bogotá chess league officials).

            On March 2008 we hosted the First International Scholastic Chess Convention in Chicago, where kids plaid chess, made friendships, and exchanged information about their respective cultures. Ambassador Karpov attended the Convention and launched the Chess for Peace program in Chicago.

            On June 9 – 21, 2009 a group of 14 scholastic chess players and their parents completed the 2^nd Chess for Peace tour to Russia . The event was part of the International Scholastic Chess Festival held in Khantu-Mansijsk Region of Russia during the 10^th annual Karpov International tournament in Pojkovskij and was organized and led by Dr. Mikhail Korenman.

The invitation to participate at the event was issued by Mr. Vladimir N. Semenov, the Mayor of the Nefteugansk District. The Siberian hosts organized a wonderful event that was enjoyable for kids and adults.                     

During the visit to Siberia, the US group visited Khantu-Mansijsk, the host city of the last two World Chess Cups and 2010 World Chess Olympiad.  During the city tour we were able to see many places that are getting ready to host the next chess Olympiad.  At the Internet Chess Center , Grandmaster Sergey Rublevskij plaid simul games with Russian and American students and gave a master class for more than 30 participants