Oprah’s South African School

I’m late on discussing this, but I just finished writing up Oprah’s entry for the Gallery of Heroes, so I figured the time was right.

Oprah opened her Leadership Academy For Girls in South Africa earlier this month. It is designed to educate around 450 girls at a time, focused specifically on giving an opportunity to impoverished girls who show an interest in education. Each girl is given a room with bathroom – a luxury for those who were sleeping on the floor a month ago. The school aims to provide confidence and opportunity to the girls who can help change South Africa. Education is shown to decrease the incidence of HIV infection and teen pregnancies – two of the biggest challenges to the success of African women.

The school is the result of a challenge of sorts from Nelson Mandela. He asked Oprah to help educate South African children and she gave him her answer this month. The inspiration wasn’t hard to find as Oprah grew up in poverty, always keen on educating herself. She said, “Their story is my story. When you educate a girl you begin to change the face of a nation.” Mandela was at the opening and said, “The key to any country’s future is in educating its youth. Oprah is therefore not only investing in a few young individuals but in the future of our country. We are indebted to her for her selfless efforts. This is a lady that, despite her own disadvantaged background, has become one of the benefactors of the disadvantaged throughout the world and we should congratulate her for that.”

Indeed, Oprah should be congratulated.

Links: The Age, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls