Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world and is now celebrated in over 100 countries. On GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and businesses.
On April 24th 2010 a chess tournament was held at Hough Street Elementary School in Barrington, IL Teacher Maggie Gruber from Hough Street School organized the tournament. Over 30 youth and adults volunteered in a variety of capacities to make this event a success. From generously volunteering service hours to donating food supplies several families made their contributions to make this event memorable. The entire proceeds raised from the tournament will be donated towards educating Meher, a little girl who has endured multiple plastic surgeries and reconstruction of her hands from funds provided by Chess Without Borders. Another simultaneous project conducted by a ten-year-old chess student during this tournament was to ask chess families for donations of care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan.
US Sergeant Steven Chartier was invited to the tournament as a special guest. He is a chess player so was delighted to have had the opportunity to play against GM Shulman.
Sergeant Chartier played continuous chess matches against many students during the entire time the tournament lasted. He was presented with GM Shulman’s textbook and two chess sets to carry with him when he returns to serve his mission.
GM Shulman and his students from Chess Without Borders identify and address the needs of their communities, organize to provide opportunities for youth engagement and promote and raise awareness of young people as assets and resources to their communities.
Kiran Frey, Volunteer with CWB