At Masiphumelele High School in Cape Town, one dedicated educator is making a difference both inside and outside the classroom.
By day, he is a committed class teacher – guiding lessons, supporting academic growth, and helping learners stay on track with their studies. By afternoon, he transforms the classroom into a Chess Club – where strategy, discipline, and confidence are built move by move.
He is not simply a chess coach. He is an educator, mentor, role model, and safe adult presence in the lives of our young people.
Chess at our school is an extension of learning. It sharpens critical thinking, strengthens concentration, and teaches learners how to plan ahead and make thoughtful decisions. These are life skills that stretch far beyond the board.
But even more importantly, the Chess Club provides a structured, safe environment after school – a vital protective space in a community where the hours after the final bell can be high-risk. Here, learners are engaged, supervised, and inspired to pursue positive goals instead of being vulnerable to negative influences.
This program works because of the teacher behind it – a professional who invests his time, energy, and heart into our learners every single day.
But due to severe budget constraints, the school is facing the possibility of losing this teaching post. If we cannot raise the necessary funds, we risk losing not only our chess program but a valued class teacher who plays a central role in both academic and extra-curricular development.
To retain him for the year and ensure continuity in both the classroom and the chess club, a campaign has been launched to help the school governing body raise R90 000 to help supplement the teacher’s salary for 2026. Our goal is to raise R7 500 per month.
This funding will:
- Secure his position as a class teacher for another year
- Help sustain the chess club and after-school supervision
- Maintain academic stability for learners
- Ensure mentorship and leadership development continue uninterrupted
This is about more than chess. It is about protecting quality teaching, mentorship, and a safe learning environment for our youth.