The United Nations in Guyana, in collaboration with the Deaf Association of Guyana and the Guyana Chess Federation, brought together UN staff, children and teachers from several Special Education Needs Schools, and development partners for a day of chess, connection and friendly competition on August 21, 2026.
The event gave participants an opportunity to engage in friendly competition while promoting greater awareness of disability inclusion, challenging stereotypes and encouraging dialogue and networking among students, teachers, and development partners.
The UN in Guyana has been using sport as a tool to promote inclusion and integration, and to increase awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities. UN Guyana has collaborated with New GPC Inc., the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the National Blind Cricket Association to promote inclusion during the CPL tournament in Guyana. The UN has also collaborated with the Spartans Domino Club to host a domino competition between UN Guyana, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, and other partners.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) affirms that persons with disabilities have the right to full and effective participation and inclusion in society on an equal basis with others, including in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. This foundational commitment has since been reaffirmed across the UN system, particularly through the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), which provides a framework for advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
In her welcome remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana emphasised that “persons with disabilities have the same rights, aspirations and potential as everyone else.” She encouraged the students to use opportunities such as this to engage with UN staff and development partners, reminding them that they are leaders today and tomorrow, and could one day lead these very institutions.
Managing Director of the Deaf Association of Guyana, Sabine McIntosh, explained that “when we move from exclusion to inclusion, we are moving closer to the kind of society we wish for all of us and for future generations.”
For the Guyana Chess Federation, Secretary Marcia Lee, noted that it was “a proud moment of the Federation to watch these amazing students and teachers step up to challenge players from the United Nations Guyana and diplomatic corps. She added that “the event truly highlighted how chess connects people across all skill levels and walks of life, and we look forward to partnering with the UN on future events.”
The Chess Federation highlighted its ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Needs (SEN) Department to introduce and sustain chess programmes in Special Education Needs Schools across the country, helping to build a vibrant community of young players with disabilities.
The competition concluded with the recognition of five winners. The winners are:
- Best Overall Player: David Rideout, UNDP
- Best Teacher Player: Nikita Grannum, Diamond Special Needs School
- Best Female Student: Pooja Rahaman, Diamond Special Needs School
- Best Male Student: Deon Smith, David Rose School
- Best UN Staff Player: Kyle Rahaman, FAO Guyana
