The classes and internet challenges
During the first few classes, it became clear that internet access was a fundamental resource the camp was struggling with. There were sudden connectivity drops, and sometimes subscription challenges that could not be resolved until funding became available. The children were fascinated by chess, but this limitation was keeping them away from an important part of modern chess learning.
I wanted to help these kids, so I first thought about offline learning materials such as books and printed worksheets. However, I realized that this would still limit their access to modern chess learning tools such as online puzzles, engine reviews, playing against bots, and other digital resources. That is when I came to the realization that I needed to raise funds to provide digital equipment with offline chess capabilities.
Working on the idea
I started making the case to my parents, but another challenge quickly became clear. Shipping digital tools like tablets from the United States to Uganda would require a much higher shipping cost. The concern was valid because the cost of shipping was almost as much as the cost of the devices themselves. At that point, I had almost given up hope.
Then I realized that I still had one option left. There are many NGOs that may already have shipments going to Uganda and might be willing to help me support the children there. I sent cold emails to several organizations, and luckily, Peyton Thomas from Speakers for Africa agreed to help if I shipped the tablets to their Colorado location. This was an immediate relief.
The budget issue
Now, the only remaining challenge was the budget. I was hoping to purchase at least two tablets, so I reached out to family members and asked them to contribute to my cause. After several conversations and a lot of convincing, I was able to gather enough funds from family and friends to secure the budget for two economical Android tablets.
In the meantime, Julien from Rosie Chess Academy reached out to let us know that Russ Makofsky, the founder of The Gift of Chess, was planning to visit Nairobi in March 2026. Russ had agreed to deliver the tablets directly to Julien, who was also planning to visit Nairobi to meet him. This was a wonderful gesture and made it much easier for the tablets to reach the children.
Delivery of the idea
Finally, I was able to secure the funding, and the tablets arrived at the front door of my house. I already had a list of materials ready, including chess games, light chess engines, and other learning content for setup. I spent a couple of hours that evening preparing the tablets, and soon they were ready to be shipped. At that point, it was just a matter of counting the days until the children in the cohort would receive them.
On April 7, 2026, Julien shared that he had collected the tablets and was able to use them. Then came a beautiful surprise. He sent me a video of my cohort thanking me for the tablets.
The journey started with a simple thought and ended with a video from Julien that made every effort feel worth it.
