Chess as a Way of Inclusion of Prisoners

Abstract

This paper describes a Portuguese ongoing experience of policies aiming at including people in society and ultimately in the labour market, promoting sustainability in wellbeing. Namely, if focuses on the teaching of chess to prisoners in Portuguese jails, and the following participation of these prisoners in championships as the first Hybrid European Championship for Prisoners held in October of 2021. the authors base the study in theories about social inclusion and relate them to chess. Then they explain in detail experiences dealing with the inclusion of chess in society. Furthermore, they explain the Portuguese case. The chapter concludes that chess has been a very interesting tool for the social integration of prisoners in Portugal as well as in other countries. Therefore, the experience is worth being pursued and developed worldwide.