In Genoa prison, a world champion taught inmates to play chess.

CHESS IN PRISON

Controlling impulsiveness , reflecting on the consequences, and achieving your goal while respecting the rules. Chess is much more than just a sport: Martha Lorena Fierro Baquero, Ecuador's consul in Genoa and gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Mind Games, knows this well. A true champion, she has decided to use her talents to help those who have made poor choices in life. For some time, Baquero has been organizing chess courses inside the Genoa Pontedecimo prison , together with a group of Ecuadorian students who have offered to enter the facility and teach inmates how to play.

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BENEFITS OF CHESS ON SELF-CONTROL

The courses were organized in collaboration with the management of the Genoa Marassi and Genoa Pontedecimo prisons, and were designed for inmates in the male and female sections. This fun-educational program will conclude with a final competition during which the inmate -players will also compete against a champion. The program aims to foster in those serving sentences a desire to reintegrate into society as best they can . "The experience was extremely beneficial," the consul told the Ministry of Justice website, "both for the Consulate and for the inmates who participated. Being called 'the science-sport,' chess helps improve self-control , helps us always think about the best move, the benefits and drawbacks of each decision, and acts when we are confident of achieving good results. We can replicate this process of calculating the best decision in our daily lives."

CHESS COURSES FOR PRISONERS

"Respect for the rules of chess," the Consul continued, "is fundamental, so much so that the first rule of chess is shaking hands both at the beginning and end of the game. Therefore, respect , thinking, strategy, analysis, and goal-setting are values ​​that can be strengthened through chess , and we believe this course has strengthened the inmates." To achieve this goal, 12 young teachers, recognized by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, were also recruited. In addition to continuing their university studies in chess, they have volunteered for this social integration and reintegration project . Thus, with a game that requires little space and only a little free time, they have attempted to checkmate the loneliness of prison and open a door to a better future.

The cover photo is taken from the Genova24.it website

INITIATIVES FOR THE REINTEGRATION OF PRISONERS

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