Fundación Caissa

♟️ About Fundación Caissa

Fundación Caissa is a Chilean nonprofit organization that uses chess, education, innovation, art, and culture as tools for community development and social inclusion. Its work focuses particularly on children and young people, combining competitive chess with educational programs designed to strengthen cognitive, emotional, strategic, and social skills. The foundation began more than a decade ago as a local initiative created by educators and chess players who saw the potential of chess beyond competition. Early activities brought chess into schools, public spaces, and community centers. Over time, Fundación Caissa expanded its work into a broader educational model that also incorporates STEAM learning, creativity, technology, and inclusive community programs. Today, the foundation operates across multiple regions of Chile and works with schools, municipalities, companies, volunteers, and local communities. Its mission emphasizes equal access to educational opportunities, while chess remains one of the principal tools used to develop concentration, decision-making, strategic thinking, confidence, and interpersonal skills.

🏆 Chess Tournaments & Activities

Tournament organization is an important part of Fundación Caissa’s chess program. The foundation combines educational initiatives with competitive events for school students, developing players, and international participants. In July 2026, Fundación Caissa organized the Torneo Escolar de Ajedrez 2026 in Santiago. The event brought together more than 500 students from 25 schools and used separate Infantil, U14, and Juvenile categories. The tournament reflected the foundation’s approach of linking competition with learning, participation, and community activity. The organization has also expanded into international chess through the Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 – She Plays. The tournament takes place in Talca from November 3–7, 2026, with the FIDE-rated competition running from November 4–7 at Club Talca. It is a seven-round Swiss tournament played at 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move and is registered for both national and international rating. FM Roberto Alarcón Bahamondez serves as Tournament Director, while FA Melany Vildósola Canales is Chief Arbiter. The event attracts titled players from Chile and other countries, including International Masters and Woman International Masters, placing Fundación Caissa’s women’s chess program within the wider international tournament calendar.

♀️ She Plays & Women’s Chess

She Plays is one of Fundación Caissa’s principal chess initiatives. The program was created to increase female participation in competitive chess while also promoting leadership, confidence, strategic thinking, and supportive networks among girls and women. During the first half of 2026, She Plays reached more than 200 girls aged 8–17 through in-person tournaments in five Chilean regions: Metropolitana, Valparaíso, Biobío, La Araucanía, and Los Lagos. The program also added 15 new schools and organized three regional seven-round Swiss tournaments. She Plays operates at several levels. School and regional events introduce girls to organized competition, while international activities provide access to stronger opposition and titled players. The 2026 Talca event also includes public activities before the main tournament, such as an opening simultaneous exhibition and a Meet & Greet with invited chess personalities. The program’s broader objective is to reduce the participation gap between male and female players. Rather than treating women’s chess as a single annual tournament, Fundación Caissa uses She Plays as an ongoing circuit that connects school participation, regional competition, development opportunities, and international events.

🌱 Education, Youth & Community Development

Fundación Caissa treats chess as an educational tool as well as a competitive sport. Its Chess for Cognitive Development program focuses on concentration, strategic thinking, decision-making, and socioemotional skills. Activities are designed for children and young people and are implemented through schools and community initiatives. The foundation also develops STEAM workshops, combining science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through practical learning activities. In 2026, these workshops expanded into five additional municipalities in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. This broader educational structure distinguishes Fundación Caissa from an organization focused only on tournament administration. Chess competitions form one part of a wider program that includes classroom learning, community interventions, innovation projects, and initiatives for groups that may have fewer educational opportunities. Its stated approach emphasizes working with communities rather than only for them. Partnerships with schools, municipalities, volunteers, and other institutions therefore play an important role in expanding the reach of each program.

📚 History & Development

Fundación Caissa traces its origins to a small educational and chess initiative created more than a decade ago. The organization began by bringing chess into local schools and community spaces after educators observed how the game could support concentration, decision-making, resilience, and respect for opponents. As the project developed, its activities expanded beyond traditional chess instruction. The foundation began integrating STEAM education, art, technology, and social-inclusion projects while continuing to use chess as a central educational tool. By 2026, Fundación Caissa was operating programs in multiple regions of Chile and organizing events ranging from large school tournaments to international FIDE-rated competitions. The growth of She Plays, in particular, demonstrates how the organization has moved from local educational initiatives toward a national and increasingly international chess-development platform. The Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 – She Plays continues that development by bringing an international women’s field to Talca while combining competitive chess with public activities and community engagement.