Chess will light up the world of visually impaired children in Turkey. With the new project called “Sighted Hands Project” (Gören Eller Projesi), chess classes will be opened in each visually impaired school.
Turkish Chess Federation (TSF) and Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Special Education and Guidance Services launched “Sighted Hands Project” with the sponsorship of Turkiye Is Bankasi.
The project started with a protocol signed between TSF and Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Special Education and Guidance Services.
Along with the “Sighted Hands Project”, chess classes will be opened in 17 visually impaired schools. Education will be given to the sight disabled children by providing specially produced chess sets, training manuals and chess clocks. Chess training manuals that are written by visually impaired chess masters and brothers Selim – Kerim Altinok, will be distributed to the students during the courses.
Within the context of “Sighted Hands Project”, the teachers who serve in these classes throughout Turkey will be given coaching education by TSF.
“CHESS KNOWS NO LIMITS, NO OBSTICLES”
In the signing ceremony, Turkish Chess Federation President Gulkiz Tulay said:
“Chess is such a sport that knows no limits, no obstacles. We want to bring the beauties of chess to the sight disabled children’s lives in order to prepare them to a new, bright future that is full of hope. For this, chess is the perfect instrument. In chess, everybody can compete equally. Sighted Hands Project is a very special project for this matter. With this Project, our children will check-mate their obstacles.”
“VISUALLY SIGHTED CHILDREN WILL TAKE MORE STRATEGIC STEPS”
Deputy Secretary for Ministry of National Education and TSF Vise-President Muammer Yildiz, indicated that they aimed to prepare sight disabled children for life while taking strategic steps. Yildiz, said:
“With the mediating of our federation and the support of İs Bankasi, we reach every school in our country and introduce our children with chess via the classes we opened. Today we are doing this for the first time for our visually impaired children. We are very happy and honored to be leading for creating such a wonderful atmosphere.”
“WE CARRY OUR SUPPORT FOR CHESS TO A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION”
Turkiye Is Bankasi Corporate Communications Director and Secretary General Suat Sozen reminded that they have taken on the main sponsorship of TSF since 2005 to transform chess a widespread, massive and easily accessible sport. “With this project, we carry our support for chess to a whole new dimension. We will open chess classes in 17 visually impaired schools throughout Turkey”, Sozen continued.
Opening of the project had media and live coverage which can be seen on the links bellow.
Video 1- Opening Ceremony of the Project
Video 2- Opening Ceremony of the Project