oprah's school

Oprah Winfrey has opened an ambitious new project in South Africa, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, just south of Johannesburg.  Oprah's school opened in January of this year with 152 young girls from impoverished South African families.

Oprah, having grown up impoverished herself, promised this school to South African President Nelson Mandela in 2000.

That promise has now borne fruit.  Out of the over 3,000 applicants, 152 were chosen based on both academic and leadership potential and have a household income of no more than $787 a month. Eventually the academy will accommodate 450 girls.

There are some that complain that her money could have been better spent if the school was less lavish, but it is her money and this is only the first of many schools she wants to build in South Africa.  By helping those that show the highest promise to achieve higher goals than they would have ever thought possible, Oprah's school is helping in many ways.  She is creating leaders that can help Africa out of its impoverished condition and stem the spread of AIDS.  Pretty lofty goals, but if anyone can do it, Oprah Winfrey can.