The right person got to her. My question is what about the thousands and thousands of black orphans in the USA who need homes. She could see to it that every one of them finds a home, couldn't she?

It's calle public opinion, and it validates your spending choices when you are of the fame and fortune that Oprah is. That's why she bought all of her audience a car, instead of building African schools. And it's definitely NOT that she wants to spend the money, she wants she investment. She will make much more in returns for doing that than building schools in Africa. It's sad, but it's true.

Probably alot. I am more concerned about the crappy schools my kid is going to go to unless I go into debt for a private one. You're right though, she could have spread it around and helped alot more kids. It would have also helped the educated adults with employment. Maybe that is the issue...maybe she ensured the funding of the teachers for years to come, along with any maintenance or equiptment the school may need.

My guess..she wants to produce other "Oprah's" and that, to her, takes focus and money directed to those who have shown a desire to succeed..she didn't take just anyone. She wanted only the smartest and most driven to succeed girls..she wants to create the leaders of tomorrow, and that means she took the "cream of the crop". She was not interested in providing education to all..just the special few. We are not all smart, driven and born to be leaders..those are the girls she is interested in "helping"..just my take on it. :)

I guess it comes down to the fact that it's her money to do with as she chooses, just like your money is yours to do with as you please.

they WERE opened all over africa but then someone in US started bitching about how AMERICAN kids were in need of state of the art schools so she built one here too! She cant get a damn break!

I think it is her decision, but IMO, the money could have been better used to give many children a chance, not just the ones SHE thinks are going to turn into tycoons. Who knows the gifted children who have missed out? I believe all kids should be given the chance to go as far as they can. I support orphanages in Bali, run by the Bali Protestant Church. The kids there are allowed to go as far in the education system as they can. Those who are not academic are taught trades and skills, and found jobs. There are over 500 children aged 5-19 in the GKPB system, and many others being monitored in home situations. I myself arrange for sponsorship of two families outside the system, both of which have disabled younger daughters (one burns victim, one failure to thrive). The older sister of one of these is very smart and so we have arranged for her to be the first one in her family to go on to senior high school. The older sister of the other one is not academic, so we will make sure she gets training and a job when she leaves school at 15. We will see how the younger girls go. I think the burns victim is a smart girl, and could follow big sister to senior high. The other one is just holding middle of the class. But, ultimately what matters is that they go to the full extent of their capabilities and that they are loved and cared for. That doesn't mean spending a million dollars on them- just enough to get them through.

Because she's an American and follows the American ethic of rewarding the selfish few.

Because Africa needs leaders

I have wondered the same thing