A National Project for Excellence and Equal Opportunities
The “L’Échiquier de l’Excellence” programme aims to promote social inclusion and equal opportunities for young people with academic difficulties, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Supported by the L’Échiquier pour la Vie Foundation, in strategic partnership with the Les Entretiens de l’Excellence association, this project is part of a national dynamic of support for secondary school students, between the secondary and final years, on a path to excellence.
- 500 professional mentors involved each year
- 50 cities covered in France
- Over 100,000 young people supported since its creation
- 85% of participants are pursuing higher education
Chess and the professional world
Chess prepares you for the professional world thanks to:
- Time management: Learn to make decisions quickly and efficiently
- Anticipation and planning: Essential project management skills
- Decision making under pressure: A sought-after quality in business
- Analysis and problem solving: Ability to analyze a complex situation
- Teamwork and healthy competition: Promotes collaboration and initiative
A structuring and sustained device
This program is based on two main axes:
- Integrating young people into the Paths of Excellence – Structured support over three years, with mentors from the professional world, immersive internships and adapted training.
- The Tours of Excellence – Organized in 50 cities in France, these exchange days allow young people to meet professionals from different backgrounds, offering them inspiring role models for success.
Young people will benefit from 6 internships each year, where they will be able to discover, in addition to the activities organized by Entretiens de l’Excellence, learning and playing chess with professionals from the business world.
AGuyana will offer 12 young Guyanese students with academic difficulties individualized support for three years, with a program that includes:
- Personalized mentoring with committed professionals
- Intensive academic support and reinforcement activities
- Introduction and practice of the game of chess, as a lever for personal development and success
- 6 internships, allowing young people to discover the professional world and interact directly with partner companies.
The objective is clear: to give young people the keys to success and allow them to access sectors of excellence, overcoming social barriers!
A first experience in Guyana
French Guiana is one of the two pilot regions of the programme, alongside Hauts-de-France. This experience aims to adapt support methods to local realities and the specific challenges of young people attending school in fragile environments.
A first tour on April 11, 2025
A first “Tour of Excellence” event will take place on April 11, 2025 in Guyana, with the active participation of the Guyana Chess League. This tour will integrate for the first time the game of chess as an educational and social tool, demonstrating its effectiveness in terms of cognitive structuring and strengthening self-confidence.
The Impact of Chess: A Tool for Inclusion and Success Strategy
The inclusion of chess in this program is based on the work carried out by Franck Droin, as former president of the Social Health and Disability Commission of the French Chess Federation and current leading player of the L’Échiquier pour la Vie Foundation.