My family was forced to emigrate from Kazakhstan to Spain when I was 13 years old. My life fell apart: a new country, a new language, new people…I remember my first day at school very well. I didn’t understand my teachers, my classmates didn’t talk to me, and I felt like I was different to everyone… During this difficult period my past seemed like a dream. I had a lot of friends, I did well in school and was the founder of the chess club. But now it’s all gone.
At this hard moment in my life, my teachers helped me a lot. I am really grateful for their help and support. Although we spoke different languages, we seemed to understand each other. In one moment I realized that I wanted to be like them. For me, superheroes were not characters from comics or books, but real people who come to class every day and change the lives of many children. Then I set a goal, as soon as I speak Spanish, I will also help people who, like me, face the difficulties of assimilation and learning.
A year later, I was able to fulfill it, becoming a tutor for children of immigrants from my and neighboring schools. I taught math and science after classes and was so happy to see them succeed in their schools. I understand how difficult it is for them, their problem is not that they are not able to learn, but that they do not understand. After a few months, more and more students began to help each other, and we have a support group called “Study World”, where we share questions and help each other in every possible way. Later, I wanted to create something similar and help people learn to play chess, because after talking with friends, I realized that there is not much free information on the Internet.
This year, I created “Chess for World”, a free online platform where students can share information about chess, solve problems, and simply talk about their experiences. We also organize small tournaments that everyone can participate in. For me, this is a big step in creating equal rights in education.
I dream that more and more people are not indifferent to the people who are near us. With new projects and our combined efforts, we can change this world. Together we are a force.
Spain 