The Convener of Chess in Slums Africa, Babatunde Onakoya recently undertook a remarkable challenge: breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon which held in New York’s Times Square from Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, to Saturday, April 20th, 2024.
This incredible feat which was supposed to last 58 hours lasted 60 hours beating the previous record of 56 hours set by Sjur Ferkinstad and Hallvard Haug Flatebo in 2018. This attempt was accomplished by Babatunde Onakoya alongside Shawn Martinez, a national master and esteemed chess coach in the United States.
This endeavor was beyond mere record-breaking aspirations; it was a concerted effort to raise $1,000,000 for providing education to out-of-school children across Africa. Shockingly, over 98 million African children have never stepped foot in a classroom, hence the urgent need for action.
Collaborating with the Gift of Chess, this fundraiser has brought Chess in Slums Africa closer to its goal of reaching 1 million children within 5 years. The Gift of Chess is an initiative dedicated to donating chess boards globally, with the aim of distributing 1 million chess sets by 2030. Recognizing the transformative power of chess in education, Chess in Slums Africa partnered with the Gift of Chess to extend this opportunity across the continent of Africa. Together, we are harnessing the strategic game of chess to empower and educate children in underserved communities.
Despite facing significant health challenges, Tunde Onakoya, alongside Shawn Martinez, have turned this ambitious vision into a reality for the children.
As of today, Chess in Slums Africa has provided over 200 children with scholarships, supporting them from their current stage of education through university. Many of these children are now enrolled in school, learning valuable trades, or developing essential tech skills.
With this remarkable achievement spearheaded by Convener Tunde Onakoya, we are now poised to extend our reach even further into slum communities, transforming more young lives for the better.
As of now, we’ve raised $120,000 out of our $1,000,000 goal, which means there’s still much ground to cover. You might be wondering, “How can I contribute?”
Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to providing education and hope to children in need across Africa.
Even if you’re unable to contribute financially, there are still meaningful ways to be a part of this cause. You can amplify the movement by sharing and talking about Chess in Slums Africa on your social media platforms. Your support in spreading awareness can make a significant difference in reaching more people and garnering support for our mission of providing education and hope to children in need across Africa. Together, let’s work towards creating a brighter future for every child. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
We express our gratitude to the Gift of Chess for collaborating with us and helping to bring this dream to life.
We also thank various news outlets both locally and internationally—such as the New York Times, AFP, CNN, Al Jazeera, Fox News and everyone for amplifying our cause. Heartfelt thanks go to Nigerian media outlets like The Guardian newspaper, The Punch, Arise news, Channels, Pulse TV and everyone we haven’t mentioned for their unwavering support.
To everyone who has donated and supported this campaign, you are the true heroes in this mission of uplifting the next generation.
And to you, the Chess in slums family home and abroad, we say thank you and we ask that you continue to join us in making a difference!
