In the world's largest "aquatic slum", "Marcoko" in Lagos, Nigeria, children are learning chess to grasp their future.
The world's largest "floating slum", "Marcoko" in Lagos, Nigeria, where most people are illiterate and many children cannot afford to go to school. The charity Chess in Slums Africa uses the game to inspire children to go to class.
In Marcoko, Lagos, most children are unable to attend school normally due to extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure. "Since most parents are illiterate, they often don't see education as a priority for their children – even if they have a way to send them to school," said a local aid worker. ”
About 200,000 people live in this place, known as the "Venice of Africa". Marcoko was built between land and a bridge around Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital. There are several ethnic groups living together, most of them live off fishing, and many live on less than $1 a day.
Since 2018, Chess in the African Slums has been working to increase children's school enrolment. Founder of the organization, Dunde Onakya: "Chess is a great way to motivate children to grasp the future. We offer scholarships to the most active members to enable them to stay in school and have the opportunity to pursue higher education. ”
Vivian Orliho, 11: "When I first came, I didn't even speak English. She enrolled through a chess course and now dreams of becoming a nurse.
The 31-year-old principal of The School of Wanyana, Emmanio Abton Oak, was with his students. The 220-student school was one of the first schools in Marcoko to cooperate with chess in the slums of Africa.
Marcelo, 10, lives in a stilt house in the heart of the slum. He loves chess and aspires to become a chess master: "Chess gave me the motivation to go to school. ”
Gomar, a student sponsored by the organization: "Chess is a game that is extremely strategic, creative, requires calm and deep thinking, and is very exciting. His instructor added: "These students are more focused on learning than ever before. ”
Onakya: "Chess has changed my life. I come from a slum and my parents can't afford to pay for my tuition. I found a deck of chess in the barbershop next to my house. I ended up winning a scholarship to go to college. Without chess, my life would have been completely different. ”
Onakya: "There are a lot of people in slums who are in extreme poverty, and without outside help, these children can't reach their potential and can become a burden on society. Chess is popular all over the world, and students in the slums are just as smart as students in other places. ”
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the school distributed 150 radios to students: "So they can listen to the lessons broadcast by the government through the national radio station," Abton Oak said. "Most of The Children of Marcoko are not so lucky. Jennifer, principal of a school along the main canal: "The level of learning of students has been declining, and many people have not returned to school yet. ”
Another teacher, Frederer: "After the lockdown, we came back to pick up the students, and some parents said that their children were not going back to school and were going to go fishing. For many children, the dream of liberation is shattered. ”
Nactor added: "In addition to the huge financial difficulties, many parents are illiterate and they don't think it makes much sense to send their children to school.
COVID-19 has exacerbated slum poverty. Food prices have soared, and many families have cut back on schooling. Docas, 12, and Rolande, 14, haven't been to school for more than two years and now help their mother smoke fish at home.
Docas and Laurent's mother, Marceline: "Daughters dream of working on computers, but terrible inflation overwhelms me and can't afford to pay my tuition. Although they ask for it almost every day and want to go to school. Girls are considered less likely to have a career, and they are often the first to drop out of school.
Philippe, a resident of Marcoko: "During the COVID-19 period, we did not receive government funding. Inflation in 2020 pushed 7 million Nigerians below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, and now a total of more than 100 million Nigerians live in poverty.
According to the latest United Nations figures, 635 million children worldwide are still affected by school closures, in whole or in part. UNICEF Chief of Education Robert A. Jenkins: "Students need intensive support measures to make up for lost education. In addition to teaching, schools must be responsible for rebuilding children's physical and mental health, social development and nutrition. ”
This article was compiled from the April 7, 2022 Guardian article "From pawns to kings: young chess champions in the slums of Lagos"