An Inspired Model or a Misguided One: Oprah Winfreys Dream School for Impoverished South African Girls
This case is about Oprah Winfrey, the woman of substance who is the ultimate rags to riches story of her era. It precisely started in December 2000 when Oprah promised Nelson Mandela to build a facility for the disadvantageous girls. The roots of the idea also trace back to a particular personal realization of Oprah herself, she was not very happy in giving away huge sums of money in charity. This pledge of hers to build a $40 Million school originally stemmed from this realization of getting actively involved in real charity. Oprah had been minting money as one of the most popular TV Hosts, and she envisioned a school for competent but economically
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challenged female teenagers who could acquire the magic from education and then contribute to the success of post-apartheid South Africa.
Her idea was rooted in the conviction that from the ranks would emerge new girls who would enable the making of “the country of new beginnings” – as she put it. The initiative drew massive criticism as well, apart from genuine praise. The critics challenged it on the grounds that the project had depth but lacked breadth; that it was a huge and lavish investment for just a handful of the populace. The edifice which started operating on January 02, 2007 told the world that the selected girls were Oprah’s daughters and that they were safe with Oprah, even safer than they would be in their own homes. The critics said that the initiative was so much for so few; Oprah insisted that it was so much for the deserving ones – those who had earned it by proving their potential. It was also lamented by words such as ‘Vanity Project’, and critics said that in a sea of poverty offering help to select few girls is not at all appropriate. Some claimed that she has built the school for herself, to satisfy herself. However, Oprah’s very own words at the end of …show more content…
the case are compelling though: “I wanted to give girls an opportunity to make a difference in the world.” Critical Issues The major problems facing the entrepreneur in this case pertain to the category of Other Problems. These actually fall into the sub-category of social problems. Severing community ties of the selected girls: disallowing frequent interactions with their respective families; taking them out of their homely environments and away from their relations which actually have a profound impact on the rearing up. Oprah Winfrey herself learnt a great deal from her grandmother. The old grandmother of her is the only beautiful part of Oprah’s inspiration for she made her love reading and recitation, which later in life helped her with oratory and public speaking. The model Oprah’s leadership academy suggests is actually denying the selected girls such love of family – both immediate and extended. This is a great menace, which would start to gnaw at the texture of females once they grow older in life. The environs of the majestic school would make them forget the original home from where they came. They would eventually be a misfit in their own homes, and would be unable to bridge the gaps later. Separating a girl from her home so that she prospers is good, but alienating her from her people would hamper her effectiveness and bonding in her very own community. She needs to know and never forget that when she was selected for the school, she was in the same living conditions in which her brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents were. Once she is made to forget this by means of a stringent visitation policy and an enforced paradigm shift, the ensuing negative effects would wreak havoc out of her position in the community. She would suffer from an identity crisis which might never be fixed for her even if she wants to. Moreover, strict policies to prevent rape might lead the girls into a not so normal orientation since interaction with the opposite sex is also important in such age. Critical Analytic Task/Results Secondary research would be helpful in ascertaining the role of family bonding, as to how people who have grown up in closely knit setups have learned more informally and have proven to be wiser in life. Moreover, primary research should also be considered. In this case, females should be talked to since they are the ones who are being recruited at the school. A blend of secondary and primary research would hence reveal the implications attached to keeping the family at bay. This would either add substantial justification or negation to the critical issue identified and the relevant recommendation submitted. It is pertinent to mention here that South African origin must be kept in mind when choosing to conduct research, since every culture has its own kind of bearing on such issues. Recommendations It is recommended that the critical issues highlighted in the category of Other Problems be considered for a revision of thought and design of the leadership academy facility. Rather than severing ties with their families, they must be allowed to stay connected to their roots. They must be allowed to visit their homes, and involve themselves in story sharing sessions with their families. This would promote mutual learning, and would inspire their female family members to strive for selection in the facility. Moreover, listening to the stories of their homes would make them mindful of their plight and hence they would always remember the privilege they are enjoying. This will also help them to contribute back to their communities, in due course. Keeping in touch with the family and community would expose them to the realities of real life; the school by design fails to offer a sneak peek into real life. Oprah should also initiate a student exchange program with the local schools of the selected females’ respective communities, so that mutual learning can foster. This exchange program should also include the visits of faculty members, and Oprah should herself accompany in some instances. Giving back to the community and society should not wait for a future date to happen, it must happen now. Case Prompts Is there an equivalent need to educate South African boys? Explain. Given the fact that Apartheid sufferers were not only girls but also boys, and given the history of Africa there is a sure shot equivalent need to educate South African boys as well.
However, the explanation of this statement as a response to the question would entail delving deeper into the personal history of Oprah Winfrey as the mastermind of this initiative. Her own life experiences are a great determinant of the design of the project. The belief in the transformational prowess of education is also her hard earned conviction. Oprah was born in 1951 to a couple which was out of wedlock. Her rearing up was done amidst extreme poverty, sexual assault, problems of shelter, and it did not stop there for she also suffered from teen pregnancy and gave birth to a baby at the tender age of fourteen. To top it all, her baby died in infancy. This was the ugly part of her inspiration, the beautiful bits found comfort in her relationship with her grandmother from whom Oprah truly learned to love reading and recitation. This helped her with her oratory later in life. The background of Oprah explains the feminist flare in her, and gives reasons for her focus on Girls only with her Leadership Academy initiative. This, however, does not eliminate the need for an equally good setup for South African
boys. Analyze Oprah’s selection criteria for admission. Are these appropriate indicators of success? Explain. Oprah’s selection criteria for the girls rested on three epic pillars: economic disadvantage, academic potential, and leadership potential. In explaining the criteria, it would be pertinent to mention that in Africa more than 57% population lived below poverty line. Hence, the reliance on economic disadvantage could never have sufficed. The explanation would make sense when seen from the perspective that Oprah wanted to see in the girls what she believed in, the conviction that education can turn things around and that it is perfectly fine to dream big. This very aspect reflected in the selection and short listing process, where the candidates were asked to draw their dream house and also to write an essay on their future dreams. The selection criteria hence thrived on the theme: “if you can dream it, you can do it.” Is the school too extravagant as some believe? Why or why not? Oprah ensured that the school has that tinge of extravagance and lavishness to it. Here I would vouch for her point of view. Oprah rightly responded to a reporter once: “would I build tin shacks for girls who came from tin shacks?” Oprah designed this facility as an idea to give comfort and privilege to the disadvantaged girls who had all the talent but did not have the opportunities to excel in life. Hence, this would not count in extravagance in my opinion. This is providing the deserving girls with a privilege, to which they would live up to in due course. It is not spending so much on few, but it is about spending too much on the deserving few. Describe the schools visitation policy? Is this appropriate? Why or why not? The school’s visitation policy was tough, and in my opinion lacked appropriateness. It disallowed frequent visits of parents and families, and hence affected their original community ties – quite. This is detrimental because one’s family ties are something very important. Family bonding cannot be undone by such measures, and it does more bad than good. When these girls would reach the giddy heights of glory, they would love to be with their families but the gap would have widened much by then. Flexibility should be adopted in the policy, and family visits should be allowed to happen more often. Overall, is celebrity based philanthropy helpful or harmful? Explain. I believe that Celebrity based philanthropy is very helpful, for celebrities are crowd pullers and have extensive fan following. They use these strengths for the good of the society, what can be more advantageous than that. It is not harmful, and provides inspiration to the other renowned people to take similar initiatives. All such good initiatives combined surely would make the world a better place to live in, hence it is a great thing to have. Why is this case being discussed in an entrepreneurship course? Entrepreneurship is surely about adopting leadership in ventures which employ human resource leveraging and providing opportunities to them so that they may excel. This is precisely the reason why this case is being discussed in an entrepreneurship course. Oprah has taken upon the idea of active involvement as opposed to signing checks for charity; this makes it a perfect entrepreneurial case.
Raquel and Melanie are two poverty stricken students that attended University Height’s High School in the South Bronx, because their school was not federal funded, it lacked resources; so it does not come as a surprise, perspective students like Melanie and Raquel have more of a ...
The author of the book talks about starting a nonprofit organization called Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS) because she was a victim of child trafficking but she was able to break free from her past and start up her organization so that she could be advocate for girls going through what she did. This book is Rachel’s memoir and recounts events in her life that led to her becoming the person she is today.
In the 1960s, Girls Inc. focused on homemaking skills, with the hopes of turning the girls into exceptional young ladies. Then in the 1970’s, a new executive director came on board and took a critical look at the organization’s mission of educating girls into...
As Kenyan mother once said, “My dreams don’t look exactly like I thought they would when I was a little girl” (nd). Jacqueline Novogratz, a modern philanthropist, understands this better than most. A typical American girl, she found herself in Africa, helping women with no voice in their world. She never planned for this growing up, but her leadership, determination, and new way of looking at the world was in her from the beginning.
Lola demonstrated the disparities of our school system, as she is from an impoverished neighborhood with a school that hindered the progression of her education. Lisa demonstrated how community influences individuals and impoverished communities often cause young members to perpetuate their parents socioeconomically situation. However, some influences, such as church communities, can have strong positive impacts on their lives. Both girls demonstrated the importance of guidance and advocate in one’s life. Lola through her troubles in the school system, and Lisa through receiving guidance through the church. Both girls have been greatly influenced by their parent’s socioeconomic status and restricted from their full potential, causing them to fall into only slightly better situations than their parents. They are prime examples of the cycle of issues in our society, and the reason that we need to make a
Winfrey’s early life was filled with arduous hurdles from the beginning, she was raised in a small podunk town in Mississippi that was anything but safe for a young girl, but on top of that she was raised by a single mother who was not around nearly enough. However the most formidable part of her upbringing was, she was sexually abused by ‘family friends’ and relatives on multiple occasions starting from the age of just nine. At twelve she was sent away to middle Tennessee to live with her father, there she realised her passion, she began giving speeches in front of her church and ultimately came to the conclusion that she wanted to speak for a living. Without her parents divorce Winfrey might have never figured out her passion of speaking to people until it was too late, this was a hidden advantage in the making of her success. However all too soon she had to leave the comfort of her father’s home where she could pursue her interest and journey back to her mother, where she was sadly yet again
"Global Partnership for Education." Girl's Education. N.p., 09 Oct 2013. Web. 19 Nov 2013. .
In 2007, Oprah organized the Oprah Winfrey Foundation which supports the education and empowerment of women, children, and families in the United States and around the world. She then opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg in South Africa, helping young African American girls get an ed...
Free the Children is a charity that aims to develop a sustainable way for youth in third world countries to have access to basic rights such as food, shelter, and education. It empowers youth to join programs, help raise awareness, and create change for the less fortunate (Wingrove, 2010). The organization was created by Craig Kielburger in 1995 at the age of 12 with 11 classmates from school (Kielburger, 2006). Over the years Free the Children has been responsible for building over 650 schools in over 45 countries, and took in $15,683,212 in Canada alone during the 2009 fiscal year (“Results and Impacts”). Craig Kielburger exemplified extremely strong leadership qualities from a very young age, and continues to do so to this day. Along with his brother, Marc Kielburger, created a very strong set of principles that allows their organization to flourish. Craig Kielburger’s strong leadership qualities drive him to strive for revolutionary change and this directly results in the organizational success of Free the Children, which is admired worldwide.
I gulped. This was clearly not a good start to my family’s first night as permanent staff members at Rancho 3M Orphanage in Guadalupe, Mexico. I had found myself sitting in this cinderblock structure (the only blonde-hair, blue eyed girl for a solid 200 miles) on account of my parents. They had not just decided to merely move our entire family away from our hometown, but they had decided that as a family unit, we would trade our cushy, country club lifestyle to work in an impoverished area of Mexico, caring for children who had been abandoned. We all yearned to provide for them a hope and a future: a chance for an education. To be more than just street smart. To have their existence mean more than knowing which gang is better to commit their life to. My family desired for them to be book smart.
...e getting equal benefits. By pooling together efforts, various positive outcomes will result. By either micro financing an educator, allowing easy transfer of foreign goods, or unifying charities, both poverty and lack of education will be combated. These methods will allow for nurturing environments for children to succeed.
This group is amazing, they have taught local citizens predominately women to set up and wire solar panels (enough to power their complete college area), build parabolic chef-less cookers and use them cook enough food for 60 meals, twice a day. They collect enough water to last through 4 years of drought through the design of their roofing and college area. Their students have been invited across the world to train others similarly. They train members of the college who they expect to stay in the area, normally this means grandmothers and mothers.
Despite progress in recent years girls still suffer a lot of disadvantage in education systems. While gender equality in education remains a crucial issue for many countries women still account for two-thirds of the world’s illiterate population. Estimated thirty one million girls of primary school age and thirty four million girls of lower secondary school age were not enrolled in school in 2011. (http://www.UNICEF.org/education/bege-61657.html) Girls’ education is both an intrinsic right and a critical lever to reaching other development objectives says UNICEF. Girls’ education is important to the achievement of quality learning. Girls who have been educated are likely to marry later and to have smaller and healthier families. Educated women can recognize the importance of health care and know how to seek it for themselves and their children. Education helps girls and women to know their rights and to gain confidence to claim them. However, women’s literacy rates are significantly lower than men’s in most developing countries. UNICEF recognizes the opportunities provided through girls’ education and it supports governments in the reduction of gender discrimination through interventions at national, local and community levels aimed to empower girls. As we look towards 2015 and beyond, UNICEF continues to take a more transformative approach to girls’ educ...
Schools were established to teach students the means of survival in preparation for a global economy. Education’s major objective today is to help increase our economy and prepare our students for future jobs. However, the progress of our public school education system in the 21st century has declined over the years. Other countries have exceeded our American Education system, especially in the areas of reading and math. Poverty stricken areas and minorities are being deprived of receiving a good quality education. Instead, only the fortunate and the lucky students are able to receive a good education. Families apply for the lottery scholarship in hopes to be accepted to a charter school as the key for to receive a good quality education.
Herz K and Sperling G., What Works in Girls' Education: Evidence and Policies from the Developing World. New York, NY: Council on Foreign Relations. 2004. Print.