Breaking barriers, closing gaps
The two times American chess champion Jennifer Shahade took time to lecture two of our students and one of our teachers. We enjoyed a journey that broke all kind of barriers
Breaking the physical barrier
Moshi and Philadelphia are 7,500m (12,200km) and 7 time zones away. From a small village a small rural village next to a sugar cane plantation in Tanzania we traveled to Philadelphia and back, a zoom call that reminds as all that the world is one click away.
Breaking the skill level
Chess is new to Moshi, we just started introducing this powerful educational tool, for us, teachers included, to receive a lesson from such an skilled player was a delight, like watching Mozart play the piano, we could clearly notice the talent on the other side of the board.
In education it is important to be introduced to excellence, it shows up as a goal in our individual imagination.
Breaking the gender barrier
Women in Tanzania play many too many times a secondary role in education and that is way it was so great to have female students with female teachers and female professors. Role models are essential in education and it is very important to be able to identify with them.
Breaking the cultural barrier
It is sometimes hard to imagine worlds beyond our doorstep and sometimes it is best to just peek into them. Yes, America is a completely different world, but after looking through the mirror glass, we see the smile of another human being that makes us feel united and related.
Jennifer joined the Hall of Fame in our classroom, together with the greatest and the closest chess champions that remind us that dreams are just one step away. Thank you very much!
Kilimanjaro Chess 