The NGO “Vy.Mova” is launching a free nationwide chess school for children and teenagers with the support of British International Chess Master Malcolm Pein. The project will begin with a pilot phase in two cities — Kobeliaky (Poltava region) and Derhachi (Kharkiv region) — based on the organization’s educational hubs. In the future, more locations across Ukraine will join the initiative.
In the communities where Vy.Mova’s educational hubs operate, children often have limited access to quality extracurricular activities. That’s why the team decided to start the project in towns where such initiatives are needed the most. The chess school will help children develop strategic thinking, focus, and decision-making skills.
“We are launching this chess school because we see it not only as an intellectual sport but also as a tool for children’s development. Chess teaches how to think several moves ahead, to concentrate, to stay disciplined, and to reason logically. It’s also a wonderful way to unite children within their communities,” says Oleksiy Honcharenko, founder of the network and Member of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The course offers regular offline classes for children aged 7 to 16. The program includes studying the fundamentals of chess, developing strategic thinking, training logical skills, and participating in mini-tournaments for practice. Participation is completely free of charge.
The program includes:
Rules of the game and basic combinations
Chess tactics and strategy
Development of logical and analytical skills
Live communication, teamwork, and first tournaments
The school operates in an offline format. All sessions are conducted by an experienced coach using a methodology developed in cooperation with Malcolm Pein — a long-time international tournament participant, trainer, and author of chess textbooks.