Power Of Pawns - Chess Competition Report

On June 10th, 2023, The SewaUSA Milwaukee Chapter and Power of Pawns Chess Organization organized their first-ever collaborative chess tournament. The objective of hosting this event was to raise funds for and to benefit underprivileged children in the Glenhills school district. Overall, the Power of Pawns Chess Tournament successfully raised $370 for the Glenhills school district. 

Additional Benefits : 

 First, children got to play chess and expand their knowledge about chess. During the tournament and the games, the children learned from each other and from the volunteers that they could practice with. After the matches, volunteers heard children comparing game notes to try and understand where they might’ve gone wrong, and how they could improve their game.

Next, SewaLeads got the opportunity to improve their leadership skills, by organizing the majority of the event. The game stall, food stand, and registration/sign-up tables were all run by teenagers. Teenagers also helped set up the tables and chairs for the event. 

Finally, the Power of Pawns Chess Tournament ignited a spark of volunteerism in the hearts of participants and their parents. While children were in the matches, parents were learning about various SewaUSA initiatives and upcoming Sewa projects. Parents got to understand what SewaUSA is and what we do.

Game Stall and Food Stand - 

Typical chess tournaments have back-to-back games, with short breaks in between for the children who finish their matches early. In the break room, the SewaLeads kept a game stall and a food stand, for children to unwind and relax their brain. In the game stall, there were various fun and challenging games that the children had fun playing, such as Pinball Tic Tac Toe, Tangrams, Cat Stack, and Block by Block. The kids had fun in between chess matches to relax, so they could play their best in the matches to come. At the food stand, snacks such as chips and soda, and lunch were provided along with complimentary Masala Chai, which was relished by everyone. These snacks and games kept the kids engaged and happy. Overall, the volunteers did an excellent job entertaining the children and ensuring that they had a good time.

With the help of community support, the Sewa International Milwaukee Chapter looks forward to organizing and hosting more events like this. To learn more about the Sewa International Milwaukee Chapter, please visit www.sewausa.org. The Acedemic Excellence Awards were given to 20 students, and these expenses cost around $1200. Sewa International is still open to more donations! 

This event would not have been successful without partnership and support from various businesses and corporations.