CHANDA Lupambo (10), a Grade Five learner at St Martin’s Preparatory School, is intelligent far beyond his years and a boffin with mathematical calculations.
The Comaro CHRONICLE went along to his Bassonia Estate home to chat to him and was completely blown away by just how clever he is. Chanda has been in the UCMAS programme since he was four years old and recently represented UCMAS SA in New Delhi, India, winning third place over 3 000 other international students in his category.
Of the 11 500 students competing internationally, eleven UCMAS SA students also competed, bringing home two runner-up and nine third-place trophies. UCMAS is a unique and scientifically-proven brain development programme designed for children to develop their latent mental power at a very early age when brain development is reaching its peak. The programme is for children between the ages four and 13 years and it offers the young learners an opportunity to accelerate their progress in mental ability, development and excellence. Learners’ practise using an age-old tool, the abacus, and they develop an arithmetic ability to do speedy calculation, regardless of the complexity, using only the brain. His parents, Carlyn and Dennis, accompanied him to India and confirmed that it was a wonderful experience with Chanda’s performance the highlight of their trip.
Chanda is a fine young boy, and as well as being friendly and very well mannered, has a great sense of humour. “We do sometimes forget he’s only 10 and often I’ll ask for his assistance when we are out on a shopping spree. He can add up my grocery bill in seconds,” said Carlyn. In many ways, though, he’s a well-balanced 10-year-old and has won numerous awards representing St Martin’s in both athletics and swimming, and is also on the hockey team. They say the way to a man’s heart is food and young Chanda’s favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese.
One thing is for sure – Chanda will be go far, and his parents are super proud of him as a result of his academic and sporting achievements. They believe that the UCMAS programme has played an important role in his academic performance in that he achieved five golds for all his subjects in Grade Four.
