Lessons from the game of chess applied to life
The Happy Chess Project, an initiative by the Việt Nam Chess Federation (VCF), recently concluded its 2025 edition. This community and education programme aims to provide underprivileged children, including orphans, disabled, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with opportunities to learn chess and develop life skills.
The project, which started in 2023, offers more than just chess lessons. It includes activities such as Zumba, football, and table tennis, aiming to foster a balanced intellectual and physical development in children.
The highlight of the 2025 edition was the Happy Chess & Friendship tournament, held last weekend. The event, organized by the VCF, brought together nearly 70 children from centres like Khang Dien Royalchess Center and local shelters. The tournament created a lively and friendly competitive atmosphere, encouraging interaction, bonding, and fair play among participants.
Jane Nguyễn, the vice president of the VCF and founder of the Happy Chess project, explained that the project not only teaches children to play chess but also instills in them the belief that they have the right to dream, to be given opportunities, and to develop just like their peers.
This year, the project introduced the ChessUp smart chess sets, an advanced technology product using artificial intelligence. These sets guide each move, analyse tactics in real-time, and offer high interactivity, helping children learn quickly and ignite their enthusiasm for learning.
The project aims to provide 100,000 chess sets and train 1,000 volunteer coaches by 2028. These efforts are supported by organizations like The Grand Hồ Tràm, whose CEO expressed commitment to fostering education, intelligence, and community connection.
Looking ahead, the Happy Chess Project plans to continue expanding access to chess education, leveraging technology, and sustaining community involvement. The ultimate goal is to use chess as a tool for social inclusion, education, and childhood development across Vietnam.
In addition to teaching chess, the project aims to instil valuable soft skills in children, such as critical thinking, patience, discipline, and the ability to overcome mistakes. These skills, combined with the project's focus on fair learning methods and modern technology, hold profound significance for the future of these children.
References: 1. Vietnam News 2. The Grand Ho Tram 3. Vietnam Plus
- The Grand HoTram, an organization committed to fostering education, intelligence, and community connection, has expressed its support for the Happy Chess Project, an initiative by the Việt Nam Chess Federation.
- In its mission to expand chess education across Vietnam, the Happy Chess Project plans to provide 100,000 chess sets and train 1,000 volunteer coaches by 2028.
- The project's use of advanced technology, such as the ChessUp smart chess sets that utilize artificial intelligence, offers high interactivity, helping children learn more effectively and fostering a deeper interest in technology.
- Beyond teaching chess, the project aims to instill valuable soft skills in children, including critical thinking, patience, discipline, and the ability to overcome mistakes, which are essential for their future success in sports, education, and beyond.
- Aside from chess and other sports activities like football, tennis, and table tennis, the project aims to create a balanced intellectual and physical development in children, fostering connections and bonding within the community.
