RGA invests in Chess for Change
RGA Reinsurance Company of South Africa has announced the launch of a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) project that will benefit the Chess for Change initiative in South Africa. David MacEnaulty, the American school teacher on whom the Hollywood movie 'Knights of the South Bronx' is based, heads up this initiative and RGA will be contributing both financial and human resources to the project over the next year as the primary corporate sponsor.
Chess for Change aims to establish a chess culture in various schools in South Africa, with the emphasis on schools in underprivileged communities, by teaching chess and providing the necessary equipment, materials, and logistical support. Through chess the initiative will help children in these areas to learn thinking and social skills, thus becoming more confident, technically proficient, and socially adept citizens of South Africa. Chess for Change provides a forum for the children to interact with other children from more privileged schools, with the goal of fostering greater understanding and respect among the various socio-economic groups within South Africa.
"As our commitment to being good corporate citizens of South Africa and helping affect positive change in the country RGA has been investigating possible CSI projects to get involved in," says Conrad Backeberg, Managing Director at RGA. "Chess for Change was selected as an ideal project to support as it aims to bridge the divide that still exists in our society due to the socio-economic, cultural and ethical barriers."
Chess was also a good strategic fit with RGA's business of life reinsurance, as both require the ability to solve problems, categorise information, recognise patterns, interpolate sequences and both practises also require analogical and sequential reasoning, according to Backeberg. "RGA also has an American heritage, which ensured a further synergy for the sponsorship, as this was an initiative that began in the United States."
RGA's involvement in the Chess for Change project will include the sponsorship of a chess tournament on 28 July 2007, which includes the provisioning of chess boards and equipment for participating scholars, aiding in the travel costs for David MacEnaulty while in South Africa, as well as a bursary to assist Chess for Change to send a chess star to the National Chess Championships.
"Actuarial and insurance specialists generally lack representation from the previously disadvantaged communities in this country. We hope that through our involvement in this education initiative we will increase the possibility of recruiting suitable employees in future appointments that better reflect our society," continues Backeberg. "We are also very excited about the opportunity to invest in the development of the children in this country. We feel that chess offers a strong platform to teach and educate children on the basic skills required, not only in business but also in life. Chess for Change will teach these children about personal responsibility, concern for others, as well as provide them with the opportunity to realise their potential as thinking, empathetic and creative members of society," he concludes.
