Empowering South African Youth Through Education

     Flashback: 2018, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.  The Umkhumbane Schools Project mentored a vibrant group of scholars for that year’s competition.  One learner named Joshua Tukushe earned a Bronze Medal at the Regional Expo for his project on the presence of bacteria on fresh produce in super markets. 

     Flash Forward:  2025, the USP launches a new chess program at three of our schools, building on an earlier program that was paused while we searched for a new program corrdinator.  Teams of chess players – some new to the game, others already proficient – are once again practicing during break time each day, getting ready for tournaments among our partner schools as well as more  established, external competitions.  Interest in the game is growing, and new players are showing up to learn what the game is all about. 

     And who is the driving force behind this new chess initiative?  None other than Mr. Joshua Tukushe, now working as Chess Instructor and Program Coordinator for the USP!  We are thrilled not only to have this exciting revival of chess as a program offering for our learners, but also to have one of our very own USP alumni on staff to make it all happen.

     Under Joshua's leadership, the new USP chess program has already brought remarkable opportunities to our chess players in these first nine months.  In March, Joshua registered a group of USP players for the St Henry's Marist College High School Open Chess Tournament.  On arriving at the tournament, our players were surprised to find themselves in a room full of players from elite private schools.  As the only participants from government schools, and having only had a few weeks of coaching from Joshua at that point, our players felt a bit overwhelmed.  But thanks to Joshua's encouragement and their own grit, they stepped up and played their best.  The St. Henry's tournament was "rated," meaning all the participants were officially registered with Chess South Africa as chess players.  In Joshua's words, "This was a significant milestone for our students, as it marks their entry into the competitive chess community."

     After participating in a few other inter-school matches during the school year, our players had the opportunity to enter the first annual USP Individual-School Open Chess Tournament earlier this month, toward the end of the current school year.  Nineteen learners from three different schools played six rounds to compete for individual honors.  First Place went to Phiri from Bonela Secondary, Second Place to Katlego from Bonela Secondary, and the Third Place medal was awarded to Olwethu from Wiggins Secondary.  As always, the players had fun while developing their skills, game strategies, and self-confidence.  Their smiles at the end of the day said it all.

     A continuous thread in this story from 2018 to today  – aside from Joshua’s talents – is the transformative generosity of our GlobalGiving donors.  It was thanks to this community of support that we were able to give Joshua the opportunity to learn about scientific research through his participation in the Expo, which by his own telling enhanced his self-confidence, improved his writing skills, and shaped his lifelong love of learning.  Joshua later developed a passion for playing chess and came to believe what many chess players know and what research verifies: that playing chess develops and sharpens analytical and problem-solving skills.  It builds friendships and can be the ticket to a wider world of learning and engagement once players start entering tournaments. 

     The USP has high hopes for our newly-revived chess initiative to remain an impactful program long into the future, bringing our learners’ personal growth, cognitive skills development, self-confidence, and social connection.  Joshua has big ideas, big aspirations, and the skills to make them real.  We are so grateful to be able to provide this promising program to our learners – while giving one of our former learners such an impactful professional development opportunity. 

     Thank you for making all of this possible! 

     Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With our deep appreciation,

Martha and the USP Team

Martha Fitzpatrick Bishai

Director, The Umkhumbane Schools Project