In spite of a major setback recently, eight members of the nonprofit Chess and Community will be able to take an international trip as planned.
Those students, along with chaperones and the agency’s founder Lemuel “Life” LaRoche are heading to Ethiopia this Friday. LaRoche’s car, along with four others, was vandalized during a fundraising trip in Atlanta. Thieves took passports, credit cards, and other items.
“So that was a setback, but the Athens community really came together through fundraisers and percentage nights,” according to LaRoche.
In addition to chess, the trip is expected to be a life-changing experience for the Athens students.
“So we will be heading out, the Classic City Knights, will be heading out to Ethiopia, to compete in a chess tournament, and to engage with a service-learning project with some local kids in Ethiopia, Kutaber, Ethiopia.”
LaRoche says the community can still donate for other needs, like water during the trip.
The Classic City Knights will take on challengers from two schools in Ethiopia for a chess tournament. To contribute, or for more information, visit www.chessandcommunity.org.