I don't understand why there are so many people upset because Oprah decided to build a school in South Africa.

Question

It was a promise she made to Nelson Mandela and all the girls that will be attending are so thankful for this wonderful opportunity they are being given. Maybe I'm not getting it, but I think it's a wonderful thing that Oprah is doing. What do you think?

A lot of people are posting that she should have helped the schools in America first, but she made the statement "I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school." I can totally understand why she would want to give her money to kids who really appreciate it rather than kids who expect things to be given to them on a silver platter. The kids in the U.S. have so many more opportunities for education than the kids in South Africa. Don't you agree?

Answer 1

It IS a wonderful thing. Girls in Africa do not have the kinds of opportunities that girls in America do. Oprah gives huge amounts of money to the poor in America as it is, and she encourages Americans to join her causes. Oprah's Angel network has improved the lives of Katrina victims, working families, and countless deserving students that would not otherwise have had a college education. She chose this cause this time because it is close to her heart. Future generations will benefit not only from the school, but from the education of their mothers and grandmothers, from the lifting of women in the social system who no longer have to endure the abuse and "ownership" by men--they can take care of themselves. Oprah is very much about "teaching a man to fish" rather than "giving a man a fish". She gives to causes that help people "eat for a lifetime". I respect her for it. Americans have much more money at their disposal than Africans. It is up to EACH of us to help the poor and contribute to the education of America's children, not just the wealthy.

Answer 2

I think it is a good thing that she is helping so many girls by offering them a better future. I know she has good intentions, but at the same time I feel like she could have helped so many more people in that community if she would have just given them all money. It cost $40 million to build that school for 160+ students. She could have given 400 families $10,000 each and they could have benefitted from that. No matter what she does, I do give her credit for helping others and giving back to those people in need. If we had more celebrities or financially stable people out here in this world willing to give up some of there money to help others this world might just be a better place.

Answer 3

Majority of the people who answered this question are Americans...

As a South African, people(over here) are "upset" because Opera makes it sound like people in SA have no formal education or even dirt roads!! As if i have a pet lion and my main form of transport is an elephant!! She chose one of the poorest areas of our country to build her school and advertized our entire country around this. The girls who went to her school are orphans or come from struggling families, i will give her that much... BUT the same problems are in the USA too.

This does not make Opera African nor does it validate her false sense of being in touch with her roots!! Imagine someone came to the USA and picked the most dull boring barren place (more-so than Delaware).. built a school for underprivileged kids.. and then marketed the USA as a poor barren country like this place? you would be offended too!!!

Answer 4

Hi Truthseeker,
Oprah has enough money to build 30 schools, anywhere she wants. I know, from hearing her speak, she has a tie to Africa, in her heart. The gripe is, where is the new schools being built in America? Many celebrities are funding all sorts of major projects in foreign countries. And it's a wonderful thing. But what about America? Until all her children/families are housed, eating regularly, have clothes and shoes, medical care, jobs...etc. there will always be griping when a celebrity does this.
Take care! :)

Answer 5

Oprah Winfrey thinks as a citizen of the entire planet
While I do not particularly like her shows or her way of doing
things.Western counties are so hopeless bogged down with red tape when it comes to helping home that I don't blame her.
If she wants to help inner city schools anywhere get the bleeding heart do gooders and the fuddy duddy conservatives get out of the way and let her do it.IT IS HER MONEY.Oprah sees a world beyond the east and west coast of the U.S.

Answer 6

Biblically speaking, you are to take care of things at home first. What would have been the effect if she would have spent 41 million on a school in an inner city? How many people would benefit? Why help in Africa when there is abject poverty here that needs to be taken care of? I'm not trying to be insensitive to other countries, but....is it necessary for her to give people lavish gifts of her favorites when she could buy books for schools or for inner city kids who need positive things to do?

Answer 7

I think she should help out here before going to some third world country and build a school. But then again, it is her money. She should be able to spend it however she wants. No one has the right to tell her how to spend it.

Answer 8

what she did is wonderful! besides its her money. people have nothing better to do. maybe if all the parents and citizens donated their time to the schools, keep control of the kids, made a real effort to work together and make education number one priority, we would not have to blame oprah.

Answer 9

she would be able to do what she needs together with her money, she earned it. and he or she would be able to assert what she needs, it truly is merely her opinion. That being pronounced, I agree together with her. in many cases, individuals have a tendency to think of that we could have issues exceeded to us. What makes this so humorous is that a surprising to an preparation IS exceeded to us on a silver platter. preparation in the U. S. is unfastened from pre-okay to twelve grade in each and every state. Yeah, yeah yeah... some faculties get greater efficient investment than others. investment of faculties is a situation yet not one Oprah can restoration (she would not have that lots money/effect). bill Gates is attempting to enhance our equipment to make us greater globally aggressive (being the richest guy alive could help open doorways). yet undesirable investment would not be an excuse for not gaining expertise of. My mom grew up in segregated Alabama. She her college books have been 2nd hand and had the be conscious "colored" stamped in them because of the fact at that factor blacks weren't allowed to pass to white faculties or get books from white libraries. even nonetheless, she replaced into nevertheless granted a "classic" preparation that's composed of gaining expertise of a thank you to talk German. Even segregation did not stop her from going to college, paying interest in college, doing the assignments, or expertise that an preparation replaced right into a efficient to each physique (inspite of, race, financial/social status). we don't even have this situation anymore and yet youngsters (from all races) look to think of preparation is a shaggy dog tale. Charity in easy terms works if the recipient is keen to settle for it. the toddlers in South Africa are keen, we don't seems to be. Oprah would retire from her coach yet she would not strike me because of the fact the type to in easy terms relax and relax. i've got faith that if she retires, she would be able to in all probability do greater charity artwork than now. sort of like Jimmy Carter and Habitat for arts. no remember the place she lives (and he or she has properties everywhere) she would be able to be nevertheless helping toddlers.

Answer 10

I believe that the money could have been spent better in the U.S. She could have even split the money between both South Africa and the U.S.