Sports Outreach Ministry Uganda (SOM) started sharing chess with children in the Katwe slum in Kampala in 2004. One of the original “pioneers” who learned from coach Robert Katende is Phiona Mutesi. Improbably, her story was discovered by Tim Crothers, a seasoned sports writer. His book, “The Queen of Katwe”, chronicles Phiona’s transformation from a poor, illiterate girl of 9 to chess champion.

In 2015, Disney made a movie based on the book and Phiona’s life. Coach Robert, who is SOM’s national director, had significant editorial input to the story and the filming, and the movie is a very accurate capturing of the stories of Robert, Phiona, her family and the other chess pioneers who learned the game with her from Robert and other SOM Coaches.

The good news? There are literally hundreds of stories as compelling as Phiona’s - stories of children whose lives are being transformed by the Gospel and the work of Sports Outreach.