Breaking Barriers: How Susan Namangale is Transforming Malawi through Chess**

Since discovering chess at age 9, Susan Namangale has dedicated her life to promoting the game throughout Malawi, emphasizing its accessibility and benefits for all. With over 150 chess clubs established, she's on a mission to make chess a beloved pastime across the nation.**

Susan Namangale's journey with chess began in her childhood, where the game transformed her life and inspired her to share its benefits with her homeland, Malawi. At just 9 years old, after her sister brought home a chessboard, she and her friends gathered their allowances to purchase additional chess sets for their school, highlighting her early commitment to the game. “If my mother knew then what I had done with the little pocket money she had given me, I would have been in trouble,” she recalls, reflecting on her neighborhood in Chombo, where access to such games was limited.

Fast forward to today, now 49, Namangale is vigorously challenging the stereotype that chess is an elite game. With a resolute belief that “Chess is for everyone,” she has embarked on a mission to integrate chess into the fabric of Malawian society. She has successfully introduced the game across various platforms, including rural schools, prisons, and among street children, thus tearing down socioeconomic barriers.

To brighten the future of the game in Malawi, Namangale has founded the Dadaz Chess Academy in the capital city of Lilongwe, further expanding her vision. Her club network has now grown to encompass over 150 clubs, extending the reach of chess to places previously untouched by the game.

Susan envisions a Malawian society where chess becomes an everyday activity, instilling discipline, critical thinking, and camaraderie among participants. Her journey is a testament to the power of an individual's passion to spark change, with Namangale leading the way in asserting that chess truly belongs to all.