Cover Story / Sports Outreach Institute
organization took in and spent about $1.5 million in 2010, tax returns show. It’s assets stand at around $302,000. None of its executives come close to earning six-figure salaries. “As an organization we feel called to live simple uncompli- cated lives that are focused on spiritual growth and helping others,” Suddith said. “We are also an incarnational and relational ministry meaning that we live among those we serve.” Most of SOI’s budget goes toward salaries for employees, pro- gramming and equipment, tax returns show. The organization has benefitted from additional donations since Phiona’s chess exploits were featured in an ESPN maga- zine article that chronicled her journey toward becoming Uganda’s three-time women’s junior champion. Suddith is hopeful that the Queen of Katwe book will gener- ate additional interest in the organization’s work. If more money were to come in, spending plans are already in place, as shown by documents the organization shared with Chess Life. To wit, SOI has plans to construct a Chess Academy & Com- munity Resource Center in Kampala for $65,000. It will be used for tournaments, semi- nars and Bible study, among other things.
For now, SOI finds clever ways
Champions!” which appeared in the November 2009 edition of Good News, SOI’s official newsletter. It says:
At first chess was just a way to keep the children who were not interested in sports involved in the feeding and discipleship pro- grams that Sports Outreach offered each day. Robert proved to be a good teacher and the students ... well ... they soon exceeded all expectations. Within a few days Robert had to find more chess- boards and pieces as interest grew and more of the students began to show ability and desire. After a few months Robert entered them into tournaments against children from more privileged backgrounds—and they won!
Soon the teams, comprised of children ages 8-15, were entered in tournaments against college students—and they won! The national chess federation of Uganda began to follow the
teams and marveled at how these children from the slums per- formed. Children from the slums are supposed to be unmotivated and stupid. Children from the slums are not supposed to have any meaningful dreams …
to get the most out of what it has. For instance, SOI recently solved an organizational prob- lem and a problem of one of its students with a single solution. Specifically, SOI’s problem was that it had no permanent place to conduct its chess activities, instead meeting at churches whenever they could squeeze in chess lessons between various church services. Meanwhile, one of SOI’s students returned from a chess tour- nament to find a home waterlogged from rains. “The whole house there was water up to the window level,” Katende said. “I just felt heartsick.” Katende conveyed the plight of the student—Stella Babirye— to SOI. The organization responded by getting a home for Stella and her family this past May and having them use the home to host SOI’s chess activities when they are in session. Chess classes take place from noon to 5 p.m. during periods when school is not in session. “They are acting as stewards,” Katende said of Stella and her family.
Stella is grateful to have her family in the home. “The house is really beautiful,” Stella said during an interview via Skype. “I do thank Sports Outreach.” Chess hasn’t always been a part of Sports Outreach Institute.
The incorporation of chess into the organization was—like a chess game itself—the result of a series of various attempts to get into a better position. Specifically, it is something that Katende—who joined SOI in 2002—decided to do after he realized that not all children were taking to soccer. Recalling his college days as a civil engineer- ing student at Kyambogo University, where he used to play chess, he retrieved a chessboard and decided to see if he could use it to engage more youths. The story is chronicled in an article titled “Slum Dog Chess
38 November 2012 | Chess Life
“That’s where chess, just like education, is a great equalizer.”
Yet these children not only won but they won with poise, grace and humility. Robert was teaching them chess but he was also teaching them the Gospel, good sportsmanship and proper manners—even if they were from the Kibuli slum of Kam- pala.
Five days later they were on their way back to Uganda. They
had met and played against teams from 16 other nations. The grandmaster from Russia had complimented each of the children on their poise and ability. All of the officials had shared their amaze- ment at the level of play from these three 12-16 year olds [Ivan, Phiona, and Benjamin Mukumbya]. Coaches from other teams had shared with the Ugandan officials how much they appreciated the discipline and concentration demonstrated by these young play- ers as they took on teams comprised of older, advantaged and better educated youth.
SOI is intent upon continuing to develop youth in Kampala into talented chess players. Despite the success SOI has had in this regard, it would be wrong to assume the organization has or knows everything it takes to achieve that goal. Katende revealed, for instance, that SOI’s students are gen- erally not versed in openings and tactics—mainstays of competitive chess.
“They all play out of instincts,” Katende said. “We just now are getting into styles of opening and different systems.” Beyond chess, SOI seeks to expose youths from the slums to a better life. Katende takes Phiona and some other SOI students to a more affluent neighborhood in Kampala to teach or play chess with the youths there.
“They may never attain that kind of material success,” Sud-
dith said. “That’s not the point. What is important is that they see another way of living. Cleaner and healthier.” The interaction is mutually beneficial.
“As they go then these rich kids or the upper class, they real- ize that these slum kids are not all out to get them,” Suddith said. “It’s fascinating to see the interaction between them. “That’s where chess, just like education, is a great equalizer.”
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