Oprah Visits Art Festival At Her South Africa School
First Published: June 19, 2009 3:04 PM EDT Credit: Getty Premium
Caption Oprah Winfrey opened the gates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) to the media for the first time on June 17, 2009 in Henley-on-Klip, outside Johannesburg, South AfricaHENLEY-ON-KLIP, South Africa -- Oprah Winfrey says the dream she had for the poor girls attending the school she established in South Africa is coming true.
The talk-show host spoke to The Associated Press on Friday after watching some pupils put on a show at the end of the school’s annual arts festival.
British actress Thandie Newton was one of the instructors at the weeklong festival, in which the girls take part in acting, photography and fashion design workshops.
Winfrey said she was overwhelmed by the talent of the girls and that they were “living the vision” she had for them.
The lavish $40 million school was opened in 2007, the fulfillment of a promise Winfrey made to Nelson Mandela and aims to give girls from poor backgrounds a quality education.
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