Gugulethu Chess College: Empowering Underprivileged Children through Chess
Babalwa Rubusana, the founder of Gugulethu Chess College, is on a mission to introduce the game of chess to young learners from impoverished backgrounds. Established in 2016, the nofee mobile chess school provides chess lessons to under11 learners in the Gugulethu township in Cape Town, South Africa.
Babalwa Rubusana, the founder of Gugulethu Chess College, is on a mission to introduce the game of chess to young learners from impoverished backgrounds. Established in 2016, the no-fee mobile chess school provides chess lessons to under-11 learners in the Gugulethu township in Cape Town, South Africa.
A Love for Chess Sparks a Passion
Rubusana’s love for chess began when a teacher at her primary school introduced her to the game. Recognizing the limited opportunities for extracurricular activities in the township, she decided to share her passion with the learners. She left her nine-to-five job to devote her time to the chess club, which has since evolved into a full-fledged college.
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Overcoming Challenges
The Gugulethu Chess College has faced various obstacles, including a lack of knowledge of the game in township schools and limited resources. Rubusana often funds trips to chess tournaments out of her own pocket, as both schools and unemployed parents struggle to contribute.
Inspiring Young Minds
Despite the challenges, the college’s young prodigies remain undaunted. Ten-year-old Phila Mngqibisa, one of the star chess players from Luzuko Primary, represented his school in a provincial tournament in George. The under-11 team, through their hard work and dedication, qualified to represent their school provincially in the Chess Western Province District Top Schools Play Offs.
Through her unwavering commitment, Babalwa Rubusana has managed to create a beacon of hope and inspiration in the Gugulethu township. Gugulethu Chess College stands as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance, proving that the simple act of moving chess pieces can indeed change lives for the better.
Thabo Sebata is a Cape Town-based journalist who covers the intersection of politics and daily life in South Africa's legislative capital, bringing grassroots perspectives to parliamentary reporting from his upbringing in Gugulethu. When not tracking policy shifts or community responses, he finds inspiration hiking Table Mountain's trails and documenting the city's evolving food scene in Khayelitsha and Bo-Kaap. His work has appeared in leading South African publications, where his distinctive voice captures the complexities of a nation rebuilding itself.
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