Students Teach Chess and Build Bridges in Amherst

AMHERST, NY (WKBW) — Students in Amherst are using the game of chess to bridge gaps in language and culture every other Friday at the North Presbyterian Church. The program, #OneWorldChess, is student-led by volunteers from the Alliance of Youth Leaders Greater Buffalo Branch and partners with the Buffalo Chess Association and the nonprofit Bridges From Borders.

“It’s an outlet for all families to get together, meet people they might not normally meet, and bond. It’s a place open for everyone, families, children, parents, grandparents,” said Samantha Dalka, Program Director for Bridges From Borders.

The program, co-founded by Grace Wang, a junior at Williamsville East High School, offers students more than just chess skills. “It requires a lot of you,” said co-founder David Cong. “It requires you to think ahead, and you become a stronger player. It requires memorization and pattern recognition, and you need to make plans and realize when you should throw away a plan.”

According to Cong, chess is a great equalizer. “You can have adults and children playing together, and there are not any remnants of inequality. Anyone can beat anyone on the chessboard.”

The program is free for all participants and aims to connect people from different backgrounds and ethnicities through the game of chess. To sign up, visit the Bridges From Borders website.