"My opponent left a glass of whisky 'en prise' and I took it 'en passant". - Henry Blackburne | SINCE 2007

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Vacancy: Chess Job

From The New York Times

Here’s a job that doesn’t come around everyday. The Peace Corps is seeking a chess coordinator to work in Saint Lucia, the island nation in the Caribbean. The job begins in August and runs for 12 months.
Candidates need to have at least intermediate chess skills, good communication skills, basic computer skills and experience creating community programs.
The job description seems to have been written by a true chess enthusiast:


Saint Lucia faces many challenges including unemployment, crime, and an under-educated population. It is unrealistic to expect any one program to fix all of these issues. However, it is obvious that the country would benefit from a giant infusion of self-discipline, strategic thinking, and increased self esteem. Surprisingly, the beginning of change for this small country of 150,000 people and 238,000 square miles may be connected to a classic game. The needed change may start with the children who take to the game with unbelievable enthusiasm and then spill over to the tight knit communities where they live. The game is chess.

There is no mention of salary, but the job will obviously have a few unusual perks. Anybody want to apply?

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