Mwale Chess Academy Promotes Chess in Malawi from Grassroots
Mwale Chess Academy promotes chess in Malawi at grassroots level.
LILONGWE, Malawi — Mwale Chess Academy in Lilongwe is working to promote chess in Malawi at the grassroots level, writes Happy Valirani.
The academy, founded by Fide Master Joseph Mwale, believes that Malawi has the potential to take chess to the international level, but that this can only happen if development starts at the grassroots.
Mwale told AfricaBrief that the academy is offering chess lessons to children in primary schools, as well as online lessons to students from around the world.
The academy has professional coaches from Malawi and South Africa and is working to get corporate sponsorship to help fund more competitions for children.
"We believe that Malawi has the potential to take chess to the international level, but this can only happen if development starts at the grassroots," Mwale said.
"We are sure that the corporate world will come in so that, as a country, we should have more competitions where these children will be competing."
Mwale said that the academy is currently operating its lessons in schools such as Lotus International and Kabwabwa Primary School.
The academy is also planning to use Bingu National Stadium as its official venue.
The academy has over 60 children enrolled and also offers online lessons to students from South Africa, Australia, Dubai, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Kenya.
"We are impressed with the positive responses from young people in the locations where these lessons are being offered," Mwale said.
"We are also donating chess tables to schools in order to promote the game."
Mwale is optimistic that the academy will reach out to more children in Malawi, and is working to expand the academy's reach.
He is also working to get more corporate sponsorship to help fund more competitions for children.