That Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy: An Appreciation

By Oliver Mbamara

    I was fortunate to watch the show “Building A Dream: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy,” on television recently. It was a touching experience. During the program, young South African girls were tested and interviewed to see which ones would be accepted into the Academy built by Oprah Winfrey in South Africa. We saw brief clips of different girls as they came in and interacted with Oprah. Many of them shed tears as they narrated their personal life experiences, yet beyond the tears one could not help but notice the inner strength, light, beauty, and intelligence of these beautiful souls. 

Obviously, due to broadcast time constraints, only a few of the students were intimately highlighted and very briefly too. It was easy to feel their innocence and shed tears with them, yet it was even more refreshing to be uplifted by their light, their hope, and their believes. It felt good to identify with the strength and confidence of these young girls. Though from South Africa, these girls represented the zeal of survival and the forthrightness of many other young girls across the continent of Africa and other parts of the world. The bright and positive visions of these girls plus their eager willing commitment to prosper despite the challenges of their early lives were frankly infectious. 

While there are many who applaud this unique gesture by Oprah Winfrey, there are those who opine that the number of children benefited is quite insignificant in view of the millions of African students in need of similar educational opportunity. Yet, one cannot take away the fact that this move by Oprah Winfrey is a very noble one. It is a positive start and a huge step in the right direction. The fact is that someone had to start something like this and Oprah did. Of course the academy has to start with a limited number of students but it will certainly grow. The symbol and good intentions of the gesture is gigantic. It should be encouraged and applauded. As is said, “Rome was not built in a day.” Also, “if you build it, they will come.” This gesture by Oprah Winfrey is a legacy that will last through generations and through this medium I say to Oprah: Thank you.

That this gesture will inevitably bring about the proliferation of many more of such ventures across Africa and other parts of the world cannot be overemphasized. No doubt, many other philanthropists would follow Oprah’s footsteps. Another note of encouragement is that Oprah has intentions of building more of such schools for children around the world. Other countries have reason to be hopeful that the next set of academies could be built in their territories.

While we are on this, it is important to point out that there are also many young intelligent, strong, and unique boys across many African countries that are in similar need of such educational opportunities. It will be great to afford them the same opportunities as afforded the girls. I am a believer in the abilities of women to lead, and in fact it is prudent to give women the opportunity to try their hands on leadership where the men have failed. And for the same reason, without being partisan, I would choose female leaders over male leaders in those African countries today where male leadership continue to play a huge role in the continued spread of corruption, poverty, civil strife, mismanagement, and ultimate underdevelopment. 

Be that as it may, I also believe that our future generation could be brought along as a whole and not in part. Focusing on one gender alone could mean leaving behind the other gender. Such disparity could inevitably lead to an imbalance that would become an issue in the future. I am certain Oprah has plans for young promising boys of Africa but again her efforts so far with the girls could be seen as an inspiration to other philanthropists across the world to stand up and do something for the underprivileged boys across the world. Such could only bring about positive growth and benefit to many. It is great to donate to charities, it is great to adopt one or two children if such is one’s convenient way to help. Yet, those who are blessed to have the abundance of wealth, material, or resources to help others in a more significant way may want to emulate Oprah’s gesture. 

The God of abundance bestows more blessings on an individual when such blessed individual uses his/her blessings for the benefit of others. A gesture of kindness to others actually opens up room for more blessings upon the giver as Spirit never hesitates to refill and replace the stock once it is expended in generosity. As Oprah told the chosen girls at the end of the show – she started off hoping to give to the girls but she has ended up receiving from them. It turned out to be one of the happiest days of her life. Such is the way of Spirit. This is only my understanding and I am still learning.

Building A Dream

Faces of Angels greeting in smiles
Glistening tears of memorable times 
Fortifying hopes of a future found
Motherly words that really healed
Penetrating eyes in a sweetly tour
Reflecting on life just like a mirror

Hugs of a mother around a daughter
Grasp of a child around a mother
Once again, they’ve found themselves 
Mother and child from across the seas.
The motherless have found a mother, 
And the childless now has daughter(s)

Started like a dream built on hope
As leaders in life they meet to cope
The school of life brings them thither 
Prepared to live, lead and prosper
The strength to build, they have found
Hoping to have their dreams fulfilled.

©Oliver O. Mbamara, February, 2007

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Oliver Mbamara is an Administrative Law Judge for the State of New York. He is also a filmmaker and a published poet and playwright. He is originally from Nigeria but now based in New York. For more on Oliver Mbamara, please visit www.OliverMbamara.com 

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