Applications open for 2025 Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI)
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation invites national chess federations to apply for the 2025 Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) project, supported by Freedom Holding Corp. in partnership with FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. The FACI project aims to develop chess potential in Asian countries. By joining this project, your federation will benefit from: Comprehensive training programs: Sessions tailored for players, trainers, and arbiters to enhance their skills and expertise. Material support: Provision of chessboards, clocks, and essential equipment to aid local activities. Educational resources: Curricula and materials designed for school programs to foster chess education. In 2024, federations from Cambodia, Nepal, Oman, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka greatly benefited from tailored training sessions, simultaneous exhibitions, and support during the Chess Olympiad. As part of the new phase, the project aims to expand its reach by inviting more countries to participate. FACI strives to unite chess communities, create new opportunities for talented players, and strengthen chess culture throughout the region. Application deadline: January 19, 2025, 12:00 PM Astana time (UTC+5).Apply here: Application FormRegulations: FACI Regulations Stay tuned for updates on our website and social media channels for the latest developments in the FACI project. New achievements and exciting horizons in the chess world await!
Educational Seminar “Chess for children with an autism spectrum – Learn and teach” announced
The International Chess Federation is pleased to announce the FIDE online Educational Seminar “Chess for children with an autism spectrum – Learn and teach”. The seminar will take place via ZOOM on January 18, 2025, from 13:00 to 14:00 CET. The event follows the success of the previous workshops held since 2021, which you can find on our website. Teaching chess to children with autism spectrum has been shown to positively impact their communication abilities, speech, thinking, self-esteem and confidence. The seminar’s speakers will present a unique training program developed in 2021 and provide practical advice. The seminar aims to deliver core knowledge for potential chess teachers and coaches working with children in the Infinite Chess project. Topics covered:The speakers will explore effective methods for teaching chess to children on the autism spectrum and explain their methodology, including: • What is autism spectrum?• How to teach chess to children with autism?• Behavior challenges and parents participation in learning process: expectations & involvement.• How to prepare the classroom? What else to pay attention to?• Digital tools for students with autism spectrum. Featured speakers: Natalia Popova – WIM, FIDE Trainer, co-author of the project’s Handbook (FIDE); Ala Mishchanka – Special needs educational assistant, more than 22 years of experience, co-author of the project’s Handbook (Canada); Evguenia Charomova – Bachelor of Science, Masters in speech therapy, Former New Zealand women’s chess champion, Speech-Language Therapist (New Zealand); Dr Ankita Sanghavi – Founder and Director of Innocent Times School (India); Viesturs Kapce – FIDE Instructor, chess coach, Infinite Chess project partner (Latvia); Melodi Dincel, M.D. – a specialized Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist (Turkey). How to participate: Join us via zoom link. Participation is free. For further inquiries: E-mail: infinitechess@fide.comProject Coordinator: Maria TamkovichInfinite Chess website: infinitechess.fide.com/