Oprah Opens School For Girls in South Africa

   By drodriguez  Apr 25, 2007
32

If you haven't heard, Oprah Winfrey recently opened a school for disadvantaged girls near Johannesburg in South Africa. She put much time and money (over 40 million dollars) into the project over the past few years. Unlike most schools, Oprah's has extra perks like a yoga studio, indoor and outdoor theaters, and a beauty salon, all designed to make the girls feel special in a way probably never dreamed possible.


All of the 152 girls handpicked by Oprah (over 3,000 applied) come from impoverished towns and many have led very tragic lives up until this point. They are all extremely bright and have a strong desire to succeed but without the opportunities and doors Oprah's school will open for them there is a very good chance their hardships will continue.

South Africa is a region of the world where the HIV/AIDS rate is very high and many live in poverty. Oprah Winfrey has said that she expects her school to turn out South Africa's future leaders. By educating these girls now she is empowering them to change their country's dire circumstances.

What do you think of Oprah Winfrey's latest project in South Africa?
Do you think the girls in this school will become South Africa's leaders of tomorrow?

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buffy72 by buffy72 | Trenton, NJ
May 09, 2007

I like Oprah very much. She is a wonderful person. All the help she gives people, not only the school in Johannesburg, but all the people she help with the Angel Network, and so on. I hope one day that I can attend on of her shows. She a remarkable women and maybe some of the underpriviliges children in the United States will also be able to experience something special. She not only helps people, she also helps animals. That is wonderful also.

JakesMom by JakesMom | Phila., PA
May 09, 2007

What she did for those children is a wonderful thing. I like most of what she says & does but the one thing that annoys me about her is when she brags about what she has or can do. I feel like she rubs it in my face because I am not as fortunate as she is. It's one thing to do good things for people but to brag or show off what you have is another. Just makes me feel uncomfortable. Makes me wish I can do the things she does without the bragging.

dukegirl by dukegirl | chester, PA
May 09, 2007

i love oprah and love whats she doing. we need more oprah .she will give these kids a since of belonging. oprah is a inspiration to us all.....

chell7 by chell7 | philadelphia, PA
May 09, 2007

I think that it was good to build the school for the girls, but what about the girls over here in the U.S.? I don't like Oprah, their is just something about her

XquisiteBeauty1 by XquisiteBeauty1 | Philadelphia, PA
May 09, 2007

I think it's amazing that Oprah gives the way she does for the children of Africa. I was so taken when I saw the show I was in tears. With her not having children of her own and going through what she had been through as a child herself, it's wonderful how she because such a big part of the girls life, in South Africa. As someone who would live to go to South Africa to volunteer, my heart goes out the all those children there. I know those girls will succeed and become very successful. I also hope there will be many more students attending the Oprah school no matter at whatever level there situation may be. I hope there will be an Oprah-like school there for the male children as well. They need education just as much as the female children. I wish I could adopt one of those children. I'm not rich or financially free, I live a normal life who raised 3 children of my own and have 4 wonderful grandchildren. That child would just become a part of my family.

aliciajohnson by aliciajohnson | Bensalem, PA
May 09, 2007

Oprah is an ANGEL. We are all so blessed to have her in our lives weather we know her personally or through our television. She is truly a wonderful woman.

closest2u by closest2u | Philadelphia, PA
May 08, 2007

I think Oprah is a very generous and smart woman, she has no biological children of her own but has found a way to raise and nuture children who may someday change and save a country for the betterment of children to come, and this will be part of her legacy. What a great Lady!

AJCS001 by AJCS001 | ORLANDO, FL
May 06, 2007

Hopefully these girls will instill in their children a need to learn as well.

Mikimoto68 by Mikimoto68 | SEATTLE, WA
Apr 29, 2007

I don't like Oprah and am really really tired of hearing about her.

SATINANDSILK by SATINANDSILK | LAKEVIEW, NY
Apr 28, 2007

GOD BLESS HER WE NEED MORE OPRAHS

seedpod94 by seedpod94 | Advance, NC
Apr 28, 2007

I do feel that Oprah will be a strong influence in the lives of these children in many ways. I recently visited Cape Town, South Africa, and I saw first hand how hard that country is fighting the war against aids and teaching their youth to practice abstinence. However, in the more remote regions of Africa this isn't the case. Oprah, in a sense, has become a potential savior for many of these girls. I hope that we will be able to look back, many years from now, and see how their lives were affected by her kindness and generosity.

sharman421 by sharman421 | TALLAHASSEE, FL
Apr 28, 2007

How wonderful that Ms. Winfrey has the ways and means to do such a thing. This will be a true blessing for these girls who would otherwise stand little chance of a voice and a future. It would be a good thing to have such a boarding school right here in the U.S. for underprivileged girls.

webbksc56 by webbksc56 | Fawn Grove, PA
Apr 28, 2007

I think that Oprah is an amazingly giving person. She has the heart that I think everyone should have.

sdgirljoyce by sdgirljoyce | Santee, CA
Apr 27, 2007

I think what Oprah is doing here is great. How many other rich people put their money where their mouth is? Oprah seems to really care.Her actions speak louder than anything she could say.

lindawall by lindawall | Colulmbia, TN
Apr 26, 2007

I think this is great. If Oprah wants to do the same thing in Tennessee let me know.