BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?

Subject: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 01:44 PM

Last night I watched this special and found it extremely moving. Today I went to oprah.com and found information on other things her foundations are doing. These are things I didn't know. People with dreams and goals and resources like hers will surely be among those who will help turn this world around. If anyone can.

Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Bono- and others; I am grateful for them.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 02:08 PM

Yes..it was wonderful...I worry about the girls who were not chosen..I hope there was some modest help for them...

And conditions are so bad in some places we don't need 40 million dollar schools to help out...probably some $200 schools would be an improvement and I hope to help some way...they are sitting in the dirt scratching letters out in the ground. Wouldn't take much to improve some of these situations...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 02:52 PM

You know,mg, that was the thought that kept recurring to me. Out of the several thousand that were sponsored, only 400 plus were screened and of those only 152 were accepted into the school.

Granted that the aim of the program is to find and educate the brightest, with the highest grades and demonstrated skills and able to articulate goals, in other words, most likely to make a difference in the future of South Africa, it still seems that those left behind were dropped into a hopeless pit. But maybe not. Maybe those children, now that they have been identified, will also be given hope...

And Oprah mentioned several times that these were the "first class" at the school. If a child brings up her grades, maybe in another year she too will be accepted.

But all in all, the atmosphere of the school where they will be living and learning is brimful of hope and the children themselves are magnificent, just awesome.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 03:44 PM

Well.... she can't "help" all 4000. But, those 152 will help many more than 4000 over their lives.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:03 PM

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:57 PM

I agree. I think it is a wondrous thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 05:08 PM

It seems to me that more good could be done by building 40 $1 million schools (or something more along those lines). This is not a slam, she is putting her money where her mouth is and that is a good thing. I just don't see all that many boats rising with this tide. I don't know the long range plans, maybe this will prove the most effective use of the money but my initial reaction is that it is not. Again, not a slam, I could be wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 05:19 PM

If you saw the documentary, KB, you will have noticed the home conditions of most of these girls. Not only that but in South Africa each child- poor or rich - has to pay to attend school. Unless someone were able to make SA change its policy just building another school wouldn't really change anything. And if you noticed, these children *were* already attending school.

So, no. Given the reality, I don't think your suggestion is valid.

Of these first 152 children, let's suppose that 90 of them finish the course. Oprah has promised to send any and all of them to college "anywhere in the world they wish", so let's suppose that 30 of them get higher education.

Let's suppose that of those 30, five of them become tremendous forces for change, for justice, for opportunity, for growth in their homeland... Think of the people they will influence, the children they will nurture, through all the years to come. These children are currently from 7th grade to 11th- they have a long time to live.

And the likelihood of success is much greater than the odds I postulated.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 05:22 PM

Pressure's on for those kids.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 05:24 PM

I meant to mention that I did not see the show so, as I said, I could be wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 05:46 PM

I didn't check it out but they say at the end that the whole show can be seen online. It is well worth it- the faces of those children and their spirit will stay with me.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: ragdall
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 08:03 PM

I think they said it would be airing again, Saturday.

It was very moving to watch. I felt badly for those who were not chosen.

I am wondering if there is a plan to build schools in other locations in the future. I caught a hint that this would happen and that they hope to interest others in donating.

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: GUEST,Blebbie
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 08:53 PM

So what kind of dream is Oprah building? Those other folks (Gates & Buffett) sponsor tetanus vaccination programs in Africa that "accidentally" result in the sterilazion of women. Hundreds of reports of that on the internet. How does Oprah fit into this?

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 09:59 PM

That's a crock, whoever you are, "Blebbie."
"Reports on the Internet" means nothing. Supply credible sources if you want to contribute to this discussion.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Did You See Oprah's 'Building a Dream'?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:13 AM

Blabbie, the chances are VERY good that those "hundreds of reports on the internet" all have their genesis from just one creep, and that all the others are quoting him. Check it out.