CHESS AND THE CAPRICORN- Part I

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CHESS IS

Chess is inter-generational played between all ages

Chess is international played between all countries

Chess is cross gender played by men and women

Chess is multi-cultural played between races, religions and social classes

Chess crosses economic boundaries played by kings, queens and paupers

Chess is techno-human as chess is played between man and machine

Chess is universal in its application as it is played on and off the board

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Capricorn is a  Primary school  located in the Vrygrond district in Cape Town, South Africa.  Vrygrond  which is Afrikaans for “free ground” is near Muizenberg and is reputed to be one of the oldest squatter camps in the Western Cape.  Vrygrond’s population is about 15,000.and many of its occupants live in shacks, shattered brick houses and other substandard living conditions.

Jonathan Schrire founded Capricorn school in January 2008. Vrygrond had no school of its own and many of its children were victims of muggings in neighboring districts. Also, bad weather and poor transportation kept many learners from attending classes. The school’s vision and mission statement is to simply deliver quality education to a poor community. Jonathan Schrire adds that education is one of the areas which still suffers profoundly from the effects of Apartheid. Although all State run schools now fall under the control of one Department of Education, there is a massive gap between the schools which were previously for Whites only and the other schools that were  especially for Blacks.

Capricorn’s founder would like the learners in this poor community, after 4 years in the school, to be on par with learners throughout the country. At present the population stands at 562 learners beginning in grade R and ending in 6^th grade. Next year will be the school’s first grade 7 which will make them a full graded South African Primary School.  Since there is no school building, classes are held in pre-fab or iron structures resembling carts on freight trains. These pre-fabs have electrical outlets, lights and computers and bathrooms.

On behalf of the MacEnulty Foundation and other worthy benefactors, this is where I came from Harlem to teach chess and the strategies of life.

Stay Tuned,
Jerald Times

Next Post:  Part II – How Capricorn Works

I WAS MOVED

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On Wednesday January 26^th 2011  I had an educational and sobering visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.  Robben is the Dutch word for seal (Seal Island) and it also imprisoned current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma for 10 years.

The tour-included work mines, guard’s quarters, administrative and censors rooms inside the prison. The highlight of my trip was taking a picture by Nelson Mandela’s prison cell.   On Facebook I received 20 hits on the picture from Americans who admire Nelson’s Mandela long road to freedom. I also received a hit from a young lady in Paris thanking me for taking pictures inside his cell.

The prisoners did not sleep on beds and were given minimal covering at night-time for sleeping arrangements.  I was   moved to see  how small the cells were and how the concrete floors were so cold.  Prisoners of color were given more food to eat on the menu than blacks extenuating the apartheid rules even unto incarceration. Escape was near impossible not only due to surrounding security but the closest land mass is 6.9 kilometers from the island.

Our tour guide was a former prisoner who served a 6 year sentence and was quite informative about the history of the island. While his words were bleak and even surreal at times they ended with hope and vision for a new South Africa.

The Girls from GuGuletu

The Girls from Guguletu

Pictured above  are the girls from Guguletu that  are part of a team I have taken to Johannesburg for the chess competitions.  I will  coach them for the next 13 months. The  uniforms colored in red, white and blue represent the colors from the Western Province in South Africa.

The young lady in the center, heavy set and brown skin is called Bongiwe. Pronounced bong gee way. She is quite maternal and direct. Could be the group leader (a bit of an attitude).

The one on the far right with braids is called Nhlanhla. Pronounced Zantla She had 5 out 7 points and won the top board prize for under 12.  She is tough and scrappy.

The twins are great chess players the one on the bottom next to Nhlanhla

is called Zintle.  Pronounced Zent le she is the serious one. She also won the board prize. The twin on top Nontle is the funny one.  She is not as good as her sister yet. Pronounced Nont le.

The girl on top to the left is called Bongiwe Makhubela. She has to catch up to the rest of the group in chess.

The young lady on the bottom left with short the hair style is called Kuhle Mbiko. Pronounced Kool la. Very smart. Out of the box and is capable of playing brilliant chess.

These are the Girls from the Township Guguletu.  More about the rest of our team soon..

Stay Tuned,

Jerald

LET IT SNOW

Hi Everybody,

In the spirit of the holidays I have added a little snow to Jerald’s blog. I thought he might miss it over there in South Africa. Season’s greetings to all!

Carole Sallid-Times
Social Media Manager

Mission South Africa

 

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Hi All,

I have been in Cape Town, South Africa since Friday December 3rd. I needed to leave Harlem and to get away from the professional or work related demons that haunted me for the last 7 months. I can’t say the transition has been difficult and once I get my Visa I can take driving lessons, get an apartment and get an international cell phone service. More about my mission in later posts.

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Cape Town is warm during the day and cool at night time.  The City is surrounded by two major water bodies which are the Atlantic and

Indian Oceans. Winds bounce off the oceans and brings cool air to the city (pictures coming soon) . Presently I am staying in a town called Observatory in a motel until I get a permanent place to live. On Saturday I fly to Johannesburg for the National Championships and I will be coaching the students from the townships.

Today I went inside Guguletu one of the more devastating townships in all of South Africa. Business and people live in shipping carts. You feel if you get in you may never get out.  The children were beautiful in spirit and respectful in manner.  Everywhere you see beauty of the natural landscape and poverty.

Cape Town is contemporary and modern in its architecture and global in luxurious amenities. Whites still own 78% percent of the wealth while Blacks are making progress in the post Mandela regime.  I spoke to the ANC (African National Congress) members who saw chess as a revolutionary tool during the Apartheid era. Activists met in Chess Clubs to discuss revolutionary strategies, politics and personal matters.

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My work schedule has been busy, sometimes I have worked from 8 in the morning to 12 at night. Tomorrow I play in a speed chess tournament and they told me that they would be coming after the American. I told them “Good luck!”

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PS I took second in the tournament.

Not bad for an old man.

Stay Tuned,

Jerald