A community initiative in Nairobi’s Kibera settlement is turning discarded plastic into chess sets for children, combining local recycling with access to a game that can nurture concentration, planning and problem-solving.
Kijiji Solutions has recycled about 200 kilograms of plastic to produce nearly 2,000 tournament-quality chess sets. Working with The Gift of Chess, the organisation is distributing the sets to children who might otherwise lack access to chess equipment and organised play.
The project collects plastic and other waste in Kibera, sorts the material and sends selected plastics for processing. The cleaned, shredded plastic returns as pellets, which Kijiji Solutions uses in an extruder and custom-made moulds to manufacture chess pieces.
The boards are also designed with local materials: a related project account describes boards printed on gunia sacks—woven packaging material commonly used in local markets—with pouches made from repurposed fabric.
The finished sets are being used by children in Kibera, where access to chess equipment and regular training can be limited. At Centre of Hope School, pupils practise with the recycled sets, learning the rules and developing their skills through play.
Chess can give children a structured way to practise strategic thinking, patience and decision-making. The initiative’s partners say making sets locally helps community schools and organisations introduce more young people to the game.
The project links environmental action with education and opportunity. Kijiji Solutions says its work is rooted in community-based initiatives in underserved urban settlements, and that it manufactures recycled-plastic chess sets for distribution through local schools and community organisations.
The partnership with The Gift of Chess is intended to widen access to chess while creating a practical use for plastic that might otherwise remain in the local environment. The approach also shows how locally made products can support community learning and environmental efforts at the same time.
For Kibera’s children, the recycled sets offer a chance to learn and play; for the community, the project connects waste recovery with education. Its longer-term impact will depend on sustained access to coaching, clubs and opportunities for children to keep playing.
The initiative turns a simple idea into a double opportunity: plastic waste becomes a useful resource, while chess becomes more accessible to young people.
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