Chess program combats youth violence in PNG's troubled Port Moresby suburb

Following January 2024 civil unrest that destabilized Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, a grassroots initiative called 'Chess InDa Hood' emerged in the severely affected suburb of Gerehu, teaching chess to at-risk youth as a tool for discipline and strategic thinking. The program aims to redirect young people away from violence and gang involvement by offering structured mentorship and intellectual engagement in one of the capital's most dangerous neighborhoods. This reflects broader struggles across the Pacific with urban crime and youth displacement, issues affecting regional stability and forcing communities to develop innovative local solutions. The initiative demonstrates how simple interventions can address complex social problems in under-resourced developing regions.