Center for Communication and Development International

Learn Grow and Play

Home About Us Events Board Donate Contact Us

The Center for Communications And Development International Teamed Up With Championship Chess of Smyrna To Eliminate Child Labor Worldwide.

Remember what it was like during your childhood years when you went to the playground and the park to participate in a variety of recreational games? Happy memories? Now, instead of a happy childhood - imagine, you are a victim of child labor. You do not learn, grow, or play. Millions of children around the world, unfortunately experience this reality every day. Three organizations teamed up to organize a chess tournament and raise money to address this issue.

On August 27, 2011 at Cumberland United Methodist Church - the Center for Communications & Development (CCD) hosted a chess tournament in collaboration with Championship Chess of Smyrna. During this First Annual Smyrna Chess Tournament, rated by the U.S. Chess Federation and professionally administered in addition to a lot of good clean fun, there were individual and group matches among students of similar grade levels throughout the day. Whenever players won a round they proceeded to compete against other players until the last match was finished. The top 3 winners of each section received trophies for their victories.

The mission of CCDI is

to foster an environment where children can learn, grow, and play

to increase literacy by building and maintaining schools

to provide scholarships and workshops to help them to obtain school diplomas or equivalent levels of certification.

Their goal is to construct at least 500 schools internationally in areas such as China, Africa, the Middle East, and India. They’re off to a good start, with well over 74 schools specializing in off-hour schedule instruction. Anita Rentz, Executive Director of the organization, stated that Center for Communication and Development International is a nonprofit organization that is trying to remove child labor internationally. CCDI and Championship Chess of Smyrna hosted the First Annual Chess Tournament on 27th August, 2011. Dr. Fun Fong, the President of Georgia Chess Association gave the awards to the children. The event was very successful and good feedback was given by the parents of the little players.

Championship Chess of Smyrna offers chess classes to children for the purpose of improving logical thinking skills and problem-solving. They also organize chess tournaments all year long, throughout the state, regionally, and even nationally. Coach Ben Johnson and Renee Leathers were the two representatives of Championship Chess of Smyrna, that facilitated the event. Ben and Renee instruct children from kindergarten through 8th grade in the art and science of chess. They do this because chess has been proven to improve the reading and math scores of those who participate in it, enhances self-esteem, and helps kids concentrate better.

Hopefully the upcoming years will provide the chance for Championship Chess of Smyrna and CCDI to continue partnering with each other to address the issue of child labor so that all children have a chance to learn, grow, and play.

CCDI will host an International Cultural Event in September 2011 and Golf Tournament in October 2011.