AFRIPOL.ORGIDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Oprah Winfrey Opens $40m School in S. Africa
Jan. 3, 2007
U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, centre, and students cut the ribbon during the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Winfrey opened a school Tuesday for disadvantaged girls, fulfilling a promise she made to former President Nelson Mandela six years ago and giving more than 150 students a chance for a better future. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Oprah Winfrey opened a school for the underprivileged girls in South Africa , fulfilling a promise of $40m school she made to former President Nelson Mandela six years ago and giving more than 150 students an opportunity for a bright future.
In South Africa on December 6, 2002, Oprah, Nelson Mandela, the South African Ministry of Education Professor Kader Asmal and Guateng MEC of Education Ignatius Jacobs broke ground on the future site of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girl.
Winfrey said during the breaking on the ground that “Education is the way to move mountains, to build bridges, to change the world. Education is the path to the future. I believe that education is indeed freedom. With God's help, these girls will be the future leaders on the path to peace in South Africa and the world.”
The Mission is for "The school will teach girls to be the best human beings they can ever be; it will train them to become decision-makers and leaders; it will be a model school for the rest of the world," Oprah said.
"I wanted to give this opportunity to girls who had a light so bright that not even poverty could dim that light," Winfrey said at a news conference for the school opening.
Mandela, 88, attended the opening ceremony of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg.
Oprah Winfrey headed a celebrity lineup that included Tina Turner and Spike Lee at the opening of her school and guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, including Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Chris Tucker, Sidney Poitier and Chris Rock.
Oprah said she planned a second school for boys and girls in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal in near future.
