Honoring UN Youth Delegates

Volunteers at Chess Without Borders harness their energy, charm and effort to drive service projects that engage and involve community members, local businesses and parents. They range in ages from 6 to 18 years and proud bearers of the tradition of combining chess education with service and philanthropy since the inception of the chess program in Barrington in 1999. When he was nine years old Rishi Sethi from District 220's Grove Avenue School in Barrington observed local community member Sam Oliver volunteering in a wide variety of projects and asked, "why can't we be like Sam Oliver". Sam set the bar very high for service receiving the Points of Light Award national award for service a few years ago. Following her example, this year in April this team of volunteers received the Points of Light Award too!

Since 1999 volunteers have taught chess, run tournaments, served food and used the arts to create innovative projects donating over $131,000 to local and global humanitarian projects. Their impact has been felt by their benefactors as well as themselves. Watch:

On January 21st 2017 in honor of Dr Martin Luther King Jr they will collaborate with Salem United Methodist church to host an Evening Honoring UN Youth Delegates. These delegates are Eleanore van Marjwik Kooy, Rohan Ahuja, Toby Schwartz, Siddharth Gehlaut and Nabeel Rasheed. These students were selected to attend the UN this past summer along with 300 other exceptional teenagers from around the world. They joined forces at the UN where where they were prepared to be leaders for the 21st century.

Previously this team of volunteers has hosted cultural events celebrating the culture and food of India and Jordan with record crowds attending both events.

On January 21st from 6 - 9 pm at Salem UMC in Barrington a $ 15 ticket includes a home made multiethnic cuisine and short presentation by the youth UN Delegates and a local humanitarian fighting human trafficking at a local level. 100% of the funds raised will benefit rebuilding damaged homes in IL and fight human trafficking.

That evening there will be a surprise tasting contest hosted by our award winning local culinary artist, Zein Bertacchi who has faithfully mentored these youth since the program began in 1999. Her passion for cooking and collaboration with the youth volunteers has played a large role in raising funds at chess events.

Award winning youth hosting the event are:

Ethan Gagliano, Pranav and Prashant Ramachandra, Prathik Kandimalla, Jack and Jane Bradley, Vishal and Rohan Ahuja, Jeeven Srivastava, Eleanore van Marwijk Kooy, Kyla Smith, Aryan and Ayushi Shah, Toby Schwartz, Siddharth and Abhijeet Gehlaut, Nabeel Rasheed, Jack Bongiorno, Sanjaya and Sahitya Maheswaran, Sophia Cai, Julie Ann Ashley, Arnav and Adu Batta, Pranay Prabhakar and Sathvik Rachamarla

Thank you for your interest and support in helping raise youth who have curiosity, depth of knowledge and care about our world.

Watch: