Chess is one of the educational and sports activities offered free of charge by the Ramacrisna Institute, combining education, sports, and citizenship as tools for human development. Running continuously since 2016, the project has established itself as a powerful strategy for comprehensive training, social inclusion, and stimulating critical thinking in children and adolescents.
The classes are aimed at students from the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER), serving children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 who live in the Vianópolis region of Betim. In 2025, the project benefited 161 participants, divided into regular classes and a team representing the Institute, focused on participating in external tournaments and competitions.
Regular classes are organized by age group, respecting the cognitive and social development of students. The competitive team is formed based on the technical level of the students, receiving complementary training with a technical, psychological, and strategic focus.
More than just teaching the rules of the game, the methodology adopted promotes strategic thinking, respect for rules, sports ethics, and responsible decision-making, always in accordance with the Laws of Chess and official sports guidelines.
The project seeks to develop essential skills for the formation of conscious and autonomous citizens, such as:
– Self-confidence and emotional self-control
– Concentration and logical reasoning
– Planning and decision-making skills
– Teamwork
– Communication and argumentation
– Resource management and resilience
These skills are directly aligned with the General Competencies of the National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC), contributing to the integral development of students.
Professor Bruno Jacomini, national referee for the Brazilian Chess Confederation and accredited instructor for the Minas Gerais Chess Federation, is responsible for the pedagogical aspects of the project. With experience since 2002 as a chess player, and since 2007 as a teacher and referee, Jacomini has trained thousands of students and teachers and participated in the refereeing of more than 200 state and national events. At Ramacrisna since 2016, he is one of the pillars of the project’s consolidation and success.
Among the significant results achieved by the Ramacrisna team are:
– Minas Gerais Youth Team Championship Title
– Medals and trophies in state championships, Betim Student Games, Minas Gerais School Chess Circuit, Metropolitan Chess Circuit, and regional stages of the Minas Gerais School Games (JEMG)
These achievements reflect the technical and pedagogical rigor of the work developed, which goes far beyond competitions.
The real impact is in the daily lives of the participants: reports from parents and guardians point to advances in self-esteem, organization of studies, discipline, communication, and the ability to deal with frustrations — reinforcing chess as a powerful tool for social transformation.
