Roma children, fighting discrimination with chess, here's what they do in Romania

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Roma children, fighting discrimination with chess, here's what they do in Romania  In this episode of Smart Regions, we went to Satu Mare, a Romanian town on the border with Hungary, where the Stea association uses chess to facilitate the integration of the most vulnerable children.  In partnership with the European Commission  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/09/roma-children-fighting-discrimination-with-chess-heres-what-they-do-in-romania  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:01Adriana Pasco, 16 years old, of Roma ethnicity, is a skilled chess player.

00:08Thanks to the game, she's developed strong analysis and concentration skills

00:12that also help her in her studies.

00:18At school, the school has helped me to think faster

00:22and retain the necessary lessons much easier than before.

00:30Playing chess was not taken for granted

00:34for her and the other children of the Roma community,

00:37in the Romanian city of Satu Mare.

00:41The Chess for Change project started six years ago

00:44thanks to the Steyer Association,

00:46which fights for the social integration of Roma children.

00:52For children, the school helps me to be fair play.

00:55The school is the only sport where people are equal,

00:59so it doesn't matter religion,

01:01it doesn't matter if you're a kid or a kid,

01:04it doesn't matter if you have disabilities.

01:08The Steyer Association is directed by Christina Bala,

01:11who from the very beginning believed in the power of chess

01:14for the cognitive and emotional development of children.

01:17In the success activity, they saw that if they do some efforts,

01:23if they learn, if they are persevering,

01:25they are able to be better,

01:29to win, and to really have success experiences,

01:32to be appreciated by others by their own force.

01:36Initially, the teachers at school were skeptical.

01:41They did not think that the Roma children could get to play chess.

01:46Today, they support the project,

01:48because the children involved are more motivated

01:51and better at studying as well.

01:53Because of their games, they develop certain abilities,

02:00such as social abilities, relationships,

02:04and critical thinking.

02:08Chess for Change started in 2019.

02:11The cost of the project in the first year was around 70,000 euros,

02:1560,000 of which were financed by the European Union

02:18with funds from the Cohesion Policy.

02:21120 Roma children have been involved so far.

02:26For six years now,

02:27Steyer has organized a regional competition.

02:31Again this year, Adriana did well,

02:33winning four out of five matches.

02:38My favorite piece is this,

02:41Regina, because I consider

02:44the most powerful power on the table.

02:48Adriana's life has been given a new lease.

02:51And one thing is certain,

02:53she has the strength of a queen.

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