World Chess Day 2023: A Chess Player’s Approach on HIV/AIDS Prevention.
World Chess Day 2023 was a memorable day for lovers of the game of chess across Nigeria, thanks to a collaboration between Kids & Teens Resource Centre and Dinamico Consulting. It involved a competition, a lecture on HIV/AIDS prevention, and award presentation.
The aim of the event was to raise awareness about the game of chess. The event had a successful turnout of 20 participants competing in the game of chess for cash prizes.
Mr. Seun introduced the organizers and the game of chess to the participants, after which the facilitator, Mr. Shile, read the rules of the game and the competition began. Three rounds of chess play resulted in three deserving winners, with the second runner up receiving a cash prize of 5000 naira, the first runner up receiving a cash prize of 7000 naira, and the winner, a cash prize of 10,000 naira.
Ms. Shola Balogun, a Monitoring and Evaluation, Research and Learning officer, educated the participants about HIV/AIDS during the course of the game. She discussed the modes of transmission, risk reduction strategies, the value of regular testing, and cleared up common misconceptions about HIV. She also provided participants with ample time to ask questions, which were thoroughly addressed. Some of the questions asked by the participants included: Can HIV be transmitted via saliva? How long can the virus survive outside the host? How frequent should I test for HIV? What should I do to convince my partner to go for HIV test without ending up in a conflict?
The event was successful with participants enjoying the game of chess while also gaining knowledge about HIV. Participants expressed their satisfaction and delight at the knowledge imparted during the event. Many of them have plans of participating in the next World Chess Day event. A total of 40 people attended the event, out of which 11 were females and 29 were males.
In summary, the collaboration between Kids & Teens Resource Centre and Dinamico Consulting on World Chess Day 2023 was a success. The event helped to raise awareness about the game of chess and HIV/AIDS prevention. It reminded us that chess is not only a sporting activity but also a tool for learning and community building. The event was an example of the positive impact organizations can make in their local communities.