THE BACKGROUND:
Across many village schools in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH), talented children rarely get the opportunity to participate in structured competitions, represent their schools, or showcase their abilities beyond the classroom. Chess can change that. More than just a game, chess builds critical thinking, problem-solving, concentration, discipline, resilience, and confidence- skills that benefit children both in academics and in life.
Me and three of my friends (who are all chess players) and I started Chess4change in 2023 to teach chess to children at rural schools in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. While working on chess outreach initiatives, we partnered with Animedh Charitable Trust in Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
What began as distributing chess sets evolved into something much bigger after witnessing the tremendous enthusiasm from students and teachers in tribal and rural schools.
However, a critical gap remained: after learning the game, these children had no platform to compete or showcase what they had learned !!
ABOUT THE INITIATIVE:
Chess4Change is a student-led initiative founded in 2023 by four 9th graders from Mumbai: Aaditya, Nehan, Krish, and Vivaan. Our mission is to teach chess completely free to children from all backgrounds and use the game as a powerful tool for education and social impact.
Animedh Charitable Trust, founded in 2012, has been a crucial mentor and partner in this journey. With deep roots in Dadra & Nagar Haveli since 2017, Animedh has empowered more than 10,299 children and 74,500 women through education, livelihoods, and community development. Their strong grassroots presence has helped us reach children who need these opportunities most.
Together with the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Chess Board Association, we are organising the DNH Buddhibal Pratiyogita 2026, an inter-school chess championship for rural children.
Note: Buddhibal Pratiyogita means Chess Championship in Hindi and Marathi
Through this crowdfunding campaign, we are raising funds to run and organise this Chess event
This championship will bring together 103 students from 12 village schools.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOURNAMENT:
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WHY CHESS MATTERS AND THE IMPACT:
Chess teaches children to think before acting, solve problems, stay calm under pressure, recover from setbacks, and respect others- valuable life skills that go far beyond the board.
This tournament is about confidence, aspiration, and showing children that their talent and hard work matter. When a child discovers they belong on a competitive stage, new possibilities open up.
We are raising INR 1.42 Lakh to make this championship a success.
Over the past three years, we have conducted workshops, volunteer-led coaching sessions, and community events.
We have impacted over 1,000 children across 13 schools and distributed over 450 chess sets in partnership with The Gift of Chess and ChessBase India, along with beginner-friendly Hindi learning resources and free online classes.
IMAGES FROM OUR PREVIOUS CHESS COACHING SESSIONS:
WHAT NEXT?
A series of easy-to-follow tutorials in Hindi, aimed at making chess learning more inclusive and accessible. These tutorials are designed especially for beginners and will soon be available to all our partner schools and communities. In addition, we plan to conduct short chess workshops and interactive mentorship sessions where students can engage with experienced players.
ABOUT ME:
My name is Aaditya Anand. I am 14-years-old and a Grade 10 student at St.Gregorios High School in Chembur, Mumbai. I am a very passionate chess player from Mumbai, and my FIDE rating is 1873.
What began as a simple interest in the game quickly grew into a deep appreciation for its ability to transform young minds. Chess has taught me invaluable life lessons: patience, strategic thinking, resilience, and confidence, which have shaped both my personal growth and my desire to give back.
In 2023, I founded Chess4Change along with my friends to bring these benefits to children from underprivileged communities. As part of this mission, we are currently organising the DNH Buddhibal Pratiyogita 2026, an inter-school chess championship that will bring together 93 students from 12 village schools in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. For most of these children, this will be their first-ever competitive tournament.
To make this event possible, we are raising INR 1.42 L. This support will cover tournament logistics, equipment, trophies, certificates, transportation, and refreshments for children from remote tribal villages.
This initiative is driven by my belief that every child deserves a chance to discover their potential and shine.
LOCATION MAP:
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ABOUT THE PARTNERS:
ANIMEDH CHARITABLE TRUST:
Animedh Charitable Trust (ACT) is a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting marginalised children, youth, women, and vulnerable communities. Through targeted programs in education, skill development, livelihood training, water-sanitation-hygiene (WASH), and mental health support, ACT empowers underserved populations to overcome poverty and social exclusion. Their initiatives include early childhood development, after-school education, computer literacy, vocational training for women and youth, and community well-being projects, all delivered with a participatory, sustainable approach.
Their efforts have enabled access to quality education, income-generating opportunities, and improved health and well-being, fostering long-term socio-economic transformation in the communities they serve.
DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU CHESS ASSOCIATION:
At DNH DD Chess Association, the mission is to promote the game of chess as a tool for learning, growth, and community building. The association is committed to nurturing talent at every level, from beginners discovering the joy of the game to advanced players striving for excellence. Through tournaments, training programs, and inclusive initiatives, it aims to make chess accessible, encourage sportsmanship, and inspire a culture of strategic thinking across Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
FAQs
Will we get to know the details of who benefitted?
Yes. After the money has been collected, it will be transferred by Fueladream to Animedh Charitable Trust. They will update you on the details of the beneficiaries as soon as possible. Once we get this information, we shall upload a report on the UPDATES section of this campaign. You will then get an alert and can read details about the beneficiaries.
When do we get the receipts?
The receipts will start getting processed about 4 to 6 weeks AFTER the campaign is closed and will be sent to you directly.
How can we fund this campaign with a Cheque?
Fueladream Online Ventures Pvt Ltd account details are as below
BANK NAME: HDFC Bank Limited.
BRANCH: Koramangala (Main Branch) . City: Bengaluru - 560095.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 50200013106778
IFSC CODE: HDFC0000053
Please draw a cheque in favour of "Fueladream Online Ventures Pvt Ltd", and deposit the cheque into the Fueladream Online Ventures Pvt Ltd HDFC Bank account (any branch across INDIA). After you deposit the cheque, please send an email to prasad@fueladream.com AND getintouch@fueladream.com with the following funder information.
1) Name of Funder:
2) Full address with PIN code:
3) Telephone/Mobile no and Email ID:
4) Cheque number:
5) PAN of the Funder:
6) Amount funded:
7) Whose campaign are you funding. (Name of the person OR campaign number/ID):
After the funds are received and the above details are verified, the fund amount will be transferred to the respective campaign. This can take from 1-3 working days.
How does crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding in India is a relatively new concept and is growing very quickly.
It’s a concept that allows a large number of funders (like you) to fund an idea or a cause or event by giving small amounts of money online. Fueladream.com is a crowdfunding platform in India that allows for such pooling of funds. You can fund innovations and ideas on FuelADream and be the first to get these products or make them come true. You can also do a good turn by funding charities and causes through crowdfunding.
