In Norway, after Magnus Carlsen became the world champion in chess, the
interest for chess has exploded. But I was surprised when my Kenyan friend
Mwaniqe last week asked me if I could assist him at a chess workshop at a
compound. He didn’t know how to play it, but he was running the workshop for
NOWSPAR (a Non-governmental organization). I know how to play but not a lot
about tactics and points etc, so it was good that Ivan from Uganda, who works
for Edusport came to instruct the participants, as well as me. Ivan is a good
friend of me and Mwaniqe.
First Day
The first day was on Tuesday, we were supposed to start at 8
AM, but we waited for about an hour before we got enough people to go to the
location where the workshop was being held. Then we had to wait a bit longer
for the rest of the people. The participants are both disabled and healthy
kids/adults, and they are all willing to learn the game of chess. Some pick it
up fast, others don’t.
Before we started it was a group of small kids standing at
the entrance of the room looking at me, I guess they don’t see many “Mozongos” in
their compound very often. Before I got to take a picture or talk to them, they
got chased away by the adults. The course lasted 2-3 hours and we left the
chessboards with the participants.
Second day We came a bit earlier this day, to try to start earlier, but still we had
to wait half an hour at the compound. And we also had to wait by the location
of the workshop, and again the kids came to the doorstep to look at me. I
grabbed the NOWSPAR camera and took a couple of pictures, it flashed, and the
kids shouted: “Futi! Futi!” which
means “Again! Again!” so I took a few
more photos. Then I took my GoPro camera and walked over to them, and I started
talking. I spoke a bit of Nyanja to them, and whenever I got stuck I had one
translator (one of the participants). It was so cool, and I’m glad I got it on
camera.
The day contained a recap and playing, and it seems like
they really enjoy it. I hope they will continue after the last day of the
workshop and improve their game, so when Mwaniqe and Ivan come back in a couple
of weeks, they will see the progress.
Third day The final day of the course we had the Zambias women champion of chess
visiting the workshop. And we made the participants play for a couple of hours.
Afterwards they wanted to show their appreciations, so we were invited to a
cultural dance. We were all hungry and had busy afternoons, but we said it
would be fun to see what they had arranged for us.
And wow, what an experience. They were dressed up and painted, danced in front
of us with drums in the background. They wanted me to come up and dance with
them, and why not? So I went up while Ivan filmed the whole thing. After a few
minutes of dancing with a massive crowd (Can you imagine a mozongo in a
compound dancing with drums).
The days that I spent there I had so many kids looking at
me, saying “Mozongo” or “how are YOU!?!” It was so cool, and
since it’s so far away from the city centre the kids haven’t seen many white
people, so I’m a very interesting person for them. They are a bit shy in the
beginning, but when I talk to them they seem very keen on talking/touching me.
Holiday/exam at
University of Western Cape On Friday at 05:00 I will head to the airport in Lusaka, and arrive Cape
Town in the afternoon. I will have one week where I’m going to have as much fun
as possible before I meet up with all the other Norwegian volunteers to do a
week program at the University and then have an oral exam on the Saturday the
14th of December. After that day our official holiday starts, and it
lasts for one month, more or less. I got my whole trip/holiday planned and I’m
really excited. I will try to keep the blog updated, but I’m not going to bring
my laptop, so I don’t know how often I will have access to a laptop (and
internet).
First day at the workshop. Me speaking to the kids about the game of chess
Me and Ivan (from Uganda) talking about chess
Showing the movement of the different pieced
They are learning. Both healthy and disabled people were at the course
From day 1, we donated chess boards so they can play and practise in the future
Day 2. A bunch of kids came to look at the mozongo in the area
Touching white skin is always interesting
I was speaking Nyanja with them
Recap and going through tactics
They were playing and I was observing and giving guidelines
Day 3. Instead of staning by the door, I came out to say hi
Showing the skills I've learned from the Africans. Notice the disable guy sitting and dancing on the ground
Thankfully I wasn't dancing by myself
A dancing mozongo in a compound attracts attention
No comments:
Post a Comment