Mediaboss Marketing

Maqonda Ndlovu

Namibias top female chess player Lischen Mentile has embarked on a journey that will see her distribute 1 000 chess boards to various entities in Namibia this year.

Speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, the 26-year-old Candidate Master said the project is part of the global efforts by Gift of Chess to distribute one million chess sets globally by 2030 by donating 1 000 or more chess sets to each country globally.

Namibia is one of the beneficiaries of this project. Gift of Chess reached out to me to be part of this initiative and as a chess coach, myself, I agreed because it is part of what I am already doing. They sent the sets with instructions on how I should distribute them, she said.

Mentile added that she will be doing a micro-distribution, meaning each beneficiary will receive five sets of these chess boards.

She said she would be targeting orphanages, prisons, schools, refugee camps, chess clubs, academies and communication centres in rural areas.

The Namibia Chess Federation will be receiving 100 boards as part of the conditions.

The aim is to make chess an accessible tool for those who do not have access to the game, especially people who cannot afford to buy chess boards. This will hopefully give a lot of people an experience and opportunities of the gift that chess has to offer beyond it being a game, she said.

She added that her first handover in Namibia will be tomorrow at the Peoples Primary School in Katutura, where she will make a small presentation during the handover.

The four-time chess Olympiad said those who wish to be coached can approach her or any other chess club or academy in the country, while those who want to establish clubs or academies can approach the NCF.

If there is any interest in continuing to play chess after the handover, I am willing to help; I can also refer and advise, she concluded.

The Namibia national team player started playing chess at the age of six. She is currently a social media manager for non-profit organisations and an online chess coordinator for girls in different countries.

Mentile added that chess is well-known worldwide but not much in Namibia, which is why the project will ensure that chess reaches all the corners of the country to grow a chess culture.

She said a lot of people, organisations, schools and entities have already approached her about requesting the equipment.

Meanwhile, the Gift of Chess Organisation says it wants to use chess as a simple tool to expand opportunities for all.

The Gift of Chess is a charitable organisation, transforming lives through our universal language of chess. jrnmarko@gmail.com

Here is the original post:
Mentile to distribute 1 000 chess boards - Truth, for its own sake. - New Era