Nedbank engages the youth
JOBURG - Nedbank engaged the youth in a tournament of speed chess, where not one, but all the participating kids were awarded much deserved trophies for their efforts.
Nedbank’s Corporate and Investment Banking’s (CIB) Chesskids Academy held an exciting one-on-one speed tournament at the Nedbank Head Office in Sandton, where seventy-three Nedbank staff members played speed games against 12 ChessKids from across Gauteng.
The agile young minds were brought to the Head Office from around Gauteng, with a large number of the ChessKids coming all the way from Soweto to compete.
The Academy aims to help children from underprivileged backgrounds to reach their full potential by teaching them important life-skills.
These life-skills include thinking with intent, agility, keeping calm in testing situations, sacrifice and respect, and most importantly, fun – all of which can all be learned by playing the game of chess.
Having enjoyed Nedbank support for the past eight years, the day raised awareness of the Academy to Nedbank staff members.
The brave even took up a challenge against the ChessKids’ lead coach and former provincial champion, Nhlanhla Thabete.
While he remained undefeated, three opponents lasted long enough to be awarded prizes from the iconic green bank.
Each of the participating learners also received trophies in recognition of their efforts at the tournament.
The staff at the Sandton branch were also winners, as they got the opportunity to engage with the future leaders of the country in the game of chess – a task that allowed them to not only stimulate their own minds, but also the minds of the learners.
The Chesskids Academy has introduced chess to over 35,000 primary school learners over the past eight years and has exciting plans to expand this even further in the future.
The Academy is a huge part of the development of a significant number of learners around the province each year and looks to continue in its much-needed efforts to grow the minds of the youth.
