Why This Campaign Matters

The world as we know it would lose so much of its beauty, strength and hope without women and girls. Yet, far too often, women and girls are submerged to lesser spaces — almost voiceless, overlooked, and less in touch with the very royalty within them.

This is why Promoting Queens exists: to unveil and promote the royalty within women and girls in marginalized communities, using chess as a catalyst for confidence, and creating opportunities for them to thrive.

So far, we have reached over 1,500 girls across Kenya and Nigeria, elevating their minds and helping them realize that they are indeed worth it — that they are Royalty.

Three Years, One Founder, No Grants

For three years, Promoting Queens has been run solely from the goodness of a few volunteers, friends and mostly from the pocket of WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo, our founder.

There have been no grants and no major funding — but the project keeps running, based on the sole belief that what we do really matters. The testimonials are no short of amazing, and they keep us going. What we do matters, and we won't stop.

We believe chess can change the lives of women and girls. This theory has been proven, and our very own founder, WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo, is one of many living proof. Promoting Queens is expanding — and this mission needs more than the founder's funding.

Come Play With a Champion

This summer, in a bid to raise funds for reaching more girls in Africa, WFM Perpetual is doing something extraordinary — she is taking chess to the streets of New York City.

You can find her in parks across NYC, from Washington Square through Times Square, with an open invitation to play chess with her. It's open to anyone.

Come play a two-time Nigerian Women's Chess Champion. Donate what you feel, and know that every dollar goes directly to the girls we serve — keeping our programs running and reaching more girls in more countries.

What Your Donation Does

Every dollar goes directly to the girls we serve. Here's what your support unlocks:

• Free chess programs in schools across Kenya and Nigeria.
• Scholarships that keep girls in school and learning.
• Chessboards, materials and mentorship for growing communities.
• Expansion into new cities and new countries.

This is Queens in the Park. It starts this summer — and it's only the beginning.