Supporting equity and mental health through chess
The Fondation des échecs féminins de Roween’s mission is to promote equality and accessibility of chess for women players of all ages in Quebec and Canada. Specifically, it is intended to provide grants for the participation of Quebec women chess players in Canadian, Pan-American and world tournaments and championships with a view to achieving parity and promoting mental health at all ages.
As the mother of a cadet chess player, senior chess novice myself, head of a single-parent family, immigrant, and researcher, I had the opportunity to think about options we could develop to spread women’s chess from Montreal in Quebec to the international level. Girls over 14 and women over 50 are even less represented in the chess community. Mental health is also a good thing to consider as chess practice is known to promote it. The first actions will therefore be devoted to them. The FGM, whose values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of its mission, seems natural to support this project.
Several scholarships will be available:
1. solidarity based on income tax returns
2. initiation for those who are just starting their chess learning: membership of the FQE and/or the FCE, club membership, and group courses.
3. perseverance: for all those who will continue in the competitive circuit beyond the U16 section and beyond 5 years of competition for adults
4. excellence, for all those who will be expert level
5. Entry fees: tournament and championship registration, travel, accommodation, and food.
6. Development: individual courses with international chess masters, individualized coaching, FQE and/or FCE membership, coaching for coach, referee training, coaching with international chess masters.
7. for clubs and organizers of women’s tournaments and championships: funding for venue rentals for tournaments and championships, funding for awards for girls, funding to develop gender parity in tournaments and championships (to reach 50% of participants), funding for the creation of women’s teams representing clubs at major tournaments and championships with jersey and accessories on behalf of the club and team to create team cohesion.
8. for children and youth who are home schooled: to help them develop their well-being and concentration through learning about chess and participating in tournaments and championships.
9. for the organization of mathematical and scientific activities, especially for girls and women of all ages, to develop their investment in science, research and innovation.