13 Jan 2020

One of the founders of Francistown School of Chess, Jeremiah Dikgang, has implored graduates of the mini chess programme to build up its brand to attract more young people.

Dikgang was speaking at the just ended three-day training workshop in Francistown, which saw 12 participants being awarded certificates of attendance.

He explained that they could only build the brand by transforming the education sector through the mini chess programme for learners aged between five and eight years.

“This is a legendary programme which focuses on child development. We should never miss the educational part of the programme when we teach the children the mini chess programme,” he added.

Dikgang further stated that it had been scientifically proven by universities in South Africa that chess developed creativity, intelligence and thinking skills’

He also explained that the programme helped chess players with the ability to come back to the game after maybe losing an encounter as well as playing a major part in the emotional development of children.

He said the workshop, the first of its kind in Botswana, was a breaking ground in the history of chess.

Dikgang, therefore, called on the graduates to go and produce products of mini chess that would take the game forward.

“From today onwards you are mini chess teachers and start to live with it,” he said.

He also implored the graduates to work together and make mini chess great in Botswana.

One of the participants, Dipolelo Moshomboro,  explained that the training workshop was good and interesting.

She said the programme came at the right time when the game of chess in Botswana had relatively grown as compared to other countries.

Moshomboro said she believed that training attendees would teach young minds for the greater future.

The facilitator, Marisa van der Merwe, implored the graduates to go and impart knowledge to others with the right skills.

She explained that, just like chess pieces, which were unique and contributory to the play, the graduates also posed the same characteristics of empowering the young persons. ENDS