As a way of reaching out to communities and carrying the spirit of caring for others, the Malibay Chess Club (MCC), together with the Edang chess group, visited the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) in Park Avenue in Pasay City last June 21 to promote youth development through chess.
The MCC members accompanied the promising kids from Edang (who are ably handled and trained by Pastor Larry Teodoro of Brgy. 154, Zone 16), to meet and play with other kids from CFSI.
As introduced on its website, CFSI is a “humanitarian organization committed to peace and social development, with particular interest in the psychosocial dimension. The purpose of CFSI is rebuilding lives. Based in the Philippines, CFSI works internationally, primarily but not exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region.”
CFSI “has worked closely with the international community as well as national and local authorities responsible for uprooted persons in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. In addition, CFSI has carried out special training efforts in various parts of the world for humanitarian workers, social service personnel, and human rights specialists.
Chess education forms part of the various disciplines and dimensions used by CFSI in helping out-of-school youth, especially those coming from the poor sector. As a community service, the MCC is trying to support – even in a very simple way – a humanitarian organization such as the CFSI.
“I hope that this collaboration continue and pick-up momentum in the future,” said Mr. Ar-Ar Arcadio of the CFSI. In behalf of the CFSI, Mr. Arcadio welcomed the MCC members as well as the Edang group.
He introduced us to CFSI volunteers and briefed us about CFSI’s visions. He was assisted by a French volunteer named Ms. Caroline. The visit was facilitated by the kind efforts of Ms. Maureen Harkins of the CFSI, who is also a volunteer from the United States.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for meeting new friends as well as for initiating a noble cause. Before the start of tune-up games, the kids from CFSI introduced themselves – one by one – to the kids from Edang. And then, the kids from Edang made their turn of introducing themselves. A very enriching experience, indeed.
And so the tune-up games followed. Notably, not only the kids played with each other. MCC’s Alex Imperial played some blitz games with Mr. Arcadio (who shared his unforgettable experience of beating GM Bong Villamayor in a simul exhibition some years ago). Even MCC members played games with CFSI people. Also, as another highlight of the occasion, Mr. Jay-El did a simul exhibition.
Mr. Arcadio noted that CFSI needs additional volunteers who could train their kids in times their volunteer coach is not around. As a possible assistance of the MCC to CFSI in developing the youth through chess, some of the club members showed willingness to provide chess lessons to CFSI kids.
That Saturday, the lobby of CFSI was a venue of potentials. The occasion served as a good seed of friendship and collaboration from which something grand and big would emerge in the future.
Optimism is in the air. And with a number of people with high sense of volunteerism bonding together, the future certainly looks bright for a genuine chess development in Pasay.
The MCC members accompanied the promising kids from Edang (who are ably handled and trained by Pastor Larry Teodoro of Brgy. 154, Zone 16), to meet and play with other kids from CFSI.
As introduced on its website, CFSI is a “humanitarian organization committed to peace and social development, with particular interest in the psychosocial dimension. The purpose of CFSI is rebuilding lives. Based in the Philippines, CFSI works internationally, primarily but not exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region.”
CFSI “has worked closely with the international community as well as national and local authorities responsible for uprooted persons in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. In addition, CFSI has carried out special training efforts in various parts of the world for humanitarian workers, social service personnel, and human rights specialists.
Chess education forms part of the various disciplines and dimensions used by CFSI in helping out-of-school youth, especially those coming from the poor sector. As a community service, the MCC is trying to support – even in a very simple way – a humanitarian organization such as the CFSI.
“I hope that this collaboration continue and pick-up momentum in the future,” said Mr. Ar-Ar Arcadio of the CFSI. In behalf of the CFSI, Mr. Arcadio welcomed the MCC members as well as the Edang group.
He introduced us to CFSI volunteers and briefed us about CFSI’s visions. He was assisted by a French volunteer named Ms. Caroline. The visit was facilitated by the kind efforts of Ms. Maureen Harkins of the CFSI, who is also a volunteer from the United States.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for meeting new friends as well as for initiating a noble cause. Before the start of tune-up games, the kids from CFSI introduced themselves – one by one – to the kids from Edang. And then, the kids from Edang made their turn of introducing themselves. A very enriching experience, indeed.
And so the tune-up games followed. Notably, not only the kids played with each other. MCC’s Alex Imperial played some blitz games with Mr. Arcadio (who shared his unforgettable experience of beating GM Bong Villamayor in a simul exhibition some years ago). Even MCC members played games with CFSI people. Also, as another highlight of the occasion, Mr. Jay-El did a simul exhibition.
Mr. Arcadio noted that CFSI needs additional volunteers who could train their kids in times their volunteer coach is not around. As a possible assistance of the MCC to CFSI in developing the youth through chess, some of the club members showed willingness to provide chess lessons to CFSI kids.
That Saturday, the lobby of CFSI was a venue of potentials. The occasion served as a good seed of friendship and collaboration from which something grand and big would emerge in the future.
Optimism is in the air. And with a number of people with high sense of volunteerism bonding together, the future certainly looks bright for a genuine chess development in Pasay.
2 Comments:
Very very very nice!- kiko G.
Thanks for the compliment, Sir Kiko! When are we going to materialize our plan of having tune-up games between our boys?
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