So many times, when a person does a tremendous act of kindness they are berated. You would think that with the reputation Oprah Winfrey has, she would be immune to such critic but alas rock throwers have come out of the wood work to comment on how she has spent HER money.
If you have been living the past week in a cave, Oprah Winfrey recently unveiled a $40 million school for South African girls. People have complained that the school is to lavish to be placed in such a poor part of the country, is a racist move, is discriminating towards boys, and questioning why she couldn't do this in America.
Now, I'm a constant Oprah show watcher and I can recall many of time where Oprah has surprised underpriviledged youth with full rides to college, taken a whole class to DisneyWorld, and recently she matched mega bucks that were given to students in her Elie Wiesel Essay contest.
On top of that the Huffington report says:
"Apparently, with Oprah, no good deed goes unpunished. How soon we forget she personally wrote a $10 million dollar check to help Katrina's victims. Just last year Oprah's foundation gave out close to $20 million dollars:
Oprah's Angel Network distributed more than $2.5 million to 33 organizations and projects making a difference in underserved communities. In addition, it distributed more than $16.5 million towards disaster recovery programs helping people rebuild and strengthen their lives and communities after the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina."
Do you still think, Oprah's not investing enough?
What I admire about her is how she is handling the comments. Much like how people criticized Bill Cosby for speaking the truth about the deterioration of the black community and he didn't back down, Oprah is continuing to stand tall.
In response to those who ask why not America she said, "When I would ask American students what they want they would say material things like Ipods and sneakers, these kids asked for uniforms so they could attend school."
Clearly these kids realize the power of a good education, which seems to be shamefully lost among the youth of modern day America.
Oprah is helping to shape young girls that are in the middle of a crisis. With her leadership these girls will hopefully be beacons that will lead their impoverished nation into a new day. I believe we can all learn from her example.
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Sure it is a great example of doing something good and amazing. However, Oprah is what I would call a wealthy celebrity unsure of what direction to use her power of dollar, in this case. South Africa has nearly universal education, the only issues is quality of education, nevertheless it is far better than most African countries. There are so many schools that are just brick structures with holes for windows and doors, schools without benches or blackboards, schools without books or supplies, these are the schools that need the most help. Creating elitist academies will be great for the few who can get in, but what of all the millions of children who don't even have access to education all across Africa who could have benefitted from just a little of that $40 million? I would like to see Oprah choose a more focused endevour that targets helping the unreached people in her next African venture.
- Challenge yourself everyday, if you don't then it is a wasted day.
www.scoutbanana.org
You know if Oprah didn't spend her millions of dollars I think "rock throwers" would come out and call her a greedy, self centered woman. People are just looking for something to complain about...
Can we talk about the education system that exists in africa esp that available to girls... I think it is a wonderful idea and 4mill when you concider property, getting the place built, supplies and all that other mess. it really doesnt seem to be that much.
I think people need to stay more concerned with how they are spending their money and not try and tell some one else how to spend THEIRs.
thanks for the comments guys. To respond to scout, I love how everyone is calling this school an elitist endeavor - when white flight happened and we got these big private school did we call these institutions elitist..NO, we said they were pinnacles of great education. these girls come from poor family and have never had the opportunity to experience this type of learning atmosphere and Oprah, has contributed to the other African schools and this will not be the only school she is building. I think this school will serve as a model and a challenge to that region to step it up and get out of the box that bound them to apartheid.
Yes you make a good point, and I want to let people know that I am not trying to tell Oprah how to spend her hard-earned dollars or that she did not do a good thing. I read a lot and I know that many people are calling this elitist, the only reason I call this elitist is because of the very large disparitiy between the schools in the region and her academy. The girls are poor yes, but as all South Africans they all had access to education. She is also opening a school for 1000 boys in the coming months. It will be a challenge to SA to step up its schooling system and I believe that will be a good thing, but the only thing I worry about is creating a greater divide by what kind of education you receive. I am not one to be calling the fouls of other people, because I have also been there and I also work to help African communities with healthcare and education.
- Challenge yourself everyday, if you don't then it is a wasted day.
www.scoutbanana.org
Since when did we get to vote on what celebrities do with their money? Oprah did a WONDERFUL thing. We can always debate on how people coulda woulda shoulda spent their money but what it boils down to is the fact that she chose to be unselfish. Can't we just celebrate that?
I'm an avid Oprah-watcher. I saw the shows regarding the Elie Wiesel contest and interviews with the author, and the Angel Network for Katrina victims. I love Oprah. She's a powerful woman, and she uses her power well: to inspire, help, and bring peace. Yet, people (who probably do nil for the community themselves) will still find reasons to complain.
At first I was also a little taken aback because she did not build this school here in the US. There are many underprivileged kids here in the US with awful classrooms, boarded windows, damaged/tagged/ripped textbooks, and all that bad stuff and she went across the Antlantic to build the school for those girls. I know it's her money and she could do as she pleases but I believe we should fix our own country before we go out and try to better others.
--I am nothing special, just the combined efforts of every
person I've ever met and every book I've ever read.
Many people who don't understand construction don't realize that 14 million dollars for a school really isn't that much. Considering how little resources Africa has many had to be shipped. And frankly who cares if it wasn't built in America. She is helping Americans plenty. We just expect to get things. Grr...now I'm getting frustrated and ranting.
Anyway, I love Oprah and I think she is doing a wonderful job.
~~~~~~~
"I am a Stephens Woman."
http://progressiveu.org/blog/ashestree