Oprah Offers $1.5 M for School in Zimbabwe

As “The Oprah Winfrey Show” nears the end of its 25th and final season, the Friday, May 20 episode of the program featured an hour titled “Oprah’s All-Time Favorite Guest Revealed!” updating viewers on the lives of some of the program’s most memorable guests. 

During the show, Oprah also revealed that her favorite guest of all-time is Tererai Trent, a woman from the village of Zvipani in Zimbabwe. 

Tererai touched the lives of millions when she first appeared on the program in 2009, sharing her passion for an education, and a lifelong dream to go to school.

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After achieving her dream, Tererai never forgot about the people who helped her along the way, and felt that she had to give back to the community by somehow bringing better education options to the children in her village. 

[ Also Visit: RMN Kids – Edutainment Site for Children ]

Her new dream was to re-build the Matau Primary School in her home village in Zimbabwe.

During her appearance on the program, it was announced that The Oprah Winfrey Foundation would donate a $1.5 million grant to Save the Children to re-build the Matau Primary School, fulfilling Tererai’s dream of quality education for thousands of children in her village.

“What Oprah did is beyond my wildest expectations,” said Tererai Trent.

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With the $1.5 million grant, Save the Children will begin construction on new classrooms, latrines, a preschool playground, a school administration building and teachers’ houses in the next few months at Matau Primary School in Tererai’s home village.

Save the Children also will supply locally-made desks, chairs, books, toys and other learning materials for students and preschoolers.

Beyond infrastructure updates, the education project will improve learning and help youngsters get on track for school, reaching nearly 4,000 children at Matau Primary School and in neighboring communities.

Save the Children will spend three years training teachers, carrying out a community-wide literacy program, and helping instructors plan and prepare activities for preschoolers to help them succeed in school.

Save the Children is a leading, independent organization that helps children in need in the United States and around the world.

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Rakesh Raman

One thought on “Oprah Offers $1.5 M for School in Zimbabwe

  • July 1, 2011 at 1:50 PM
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    I am so pleased to know that Oprah’s heart is also on Zimbabwean pupils[children].Thank you so much for such a donation to our school.

    I am currently teaching at Chaplin High School in Gweru,Zimbabwe and we are facing a desperate challenge of textbooks in the main library and the school in general.The is totally nothing of use of the little stock of books available.
    We do have space that can take up to 150 pupils per session,but there is nothing to read except their notes provided by the teacher who is the sole source of information.This is not the expected type of study for our pupils.
    I would love to see them online researching etc.
    Please teach me to find ways to make a start on our own.So far we raised some money to buy a computer with five more thin clients and try to make use of Encarta program.I need ideas that will fast track this program so that we can also be online,with a lot of books too for reading.
    Thank you so much.You were created by The Father Of Glory,Almighty God for a time such as this .Continue your great work.The Holy Spirit is your guide.

    So much LOVE.

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