Youth Innovative Ideas Support Science

“To be a good human being is to have a kind of openness to the world, an ability to trust uncertain things beyond your own control,” Martha Nussbaum

For exploring the world with all its potential an open mind will enable many possibilities. Children start their life with openness and trust and that is what led teenagers Paari and Varun Dhanasekaran, Srinivas Jaganath, Dimitri Diyadawagamage, Anthony Zhu, Johnny Dawson on remarkable journeys. Their mentor, Zein Bertacchi recognised their curiosity and excitement when they were able to make programs possible through raising funds so she decided to create a spice blend that makes cooking tasty and easy. Zein is the award winning "in house cook" for Chess Without Borders where tournaments and chess events raise funds through selling food. The program has raised over $220,000 for various charities over the years. Zein's spices were sold by teenage youth volunteers to raise funds adding to support a mission trip for local volunteers travelling to Korea, distribute chess sets and fruits for a police station on 18th Street in Chicago taking care of migrant children. Most recently the team will support Biographies of Superagers they work with at various charity events. The sale of spices was simple but the funds raised supported causes which educated the students about complex issues facing the world. These youth are able to take the product sales to a new level. 17 year old Dimitri recently asked for a new batch of spices to sell, "what are we supporting with this now". He had not heard about superagers but will now learn about this concept.

Social entrepreneurship encourages learning in multiple areas of intelligence but the intergenerational depth of exposure is one of the more interesting aspects of learning. Over the last 2 years an award winning local artist, Mort Luby began working with Chess Without Borders to raise funds. The youth enjoyed his company, wit, talent and hospitality as Mort opened his home and private gallery to help raise funds. "I love his furniture, designs and talking to him" said 18 year-old Ethan Gagliano.

The enigma of why some people develop dementia and others can lead productive, intellectually stimulating lives is one of the burning questions for this century. At Chess Without Borders often some of the volunteers playing or helping at tournaments are older but sometimes they can be classified as Superagers. A SuperAger (a term coined by Northwestern University) is someone in their 80s or older who exhibits cognitive function that is comparable to that of an average middle-aged individual. What are their secrets and can the Biographies of these "superagers" in the midst of many of the youth humanitarian events hosted at Chess Without Borders describe the rich lives these people lead and how they may play a role in their luck as superagers?

“Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but most of all, endurance,”

James Baldwin

These youth social entrepreneurs enthusiastically sold spices to advance humanitarian causes but in the process learned about discipline, luck, endurance and the admiration of adults they worked with enabled them to achieve goals. Paari and Varun Dhanasekaran, Dimitri Diyadawagamage, Anthony Zhu, Johnny Dawson have received the Presidential Award for Volunteering from the White House.

The youth start a project with a simple idea such as selling spices but gradually through hard work and depth of involvement they are introduced to deeper issues such as the Korean war, migrant shelters and now will understand how the seniors they work with have purpose driven lives that can contribute to the science of superaging.

Anyone is welcome to join in honoring and understanding the superagers in our midst. You can help by buying Zein's zesty spices as sales help fund such projects. Please email chesswob@gmail.com for more information or volunteer opportunities.

To learn more about the Presidential Service Awardees here is a past video: