Change the World - One Girl at a Time

To change the world one girl at a time was one of the reasons Oprah Winfrey opened her Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa this year. To change a girl’s world one girl at a time, was one of the reasons Growth Through Learning was established by Roger Whiting ten years ago. Both Oprah Winfrey and Roger Whiting believe that education is the primary requisite that will save girls who come from impoverished African families.

Oprah has built her own school, hired her own teachers, and set her own curriculum. Growth Through Learning sends its students to local boarding schools in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. By attending boarding schools the young women are protected from bride buyers and other dangerous circumstances.

Electricity, often not available at home, enables them to study in the evenings and have access to computers and other electronic machines, thus preparing them for a technical world. Their basic needs of shelter and food are also met at the schools. The schools reflect the customs and mores of the communities. Growth Through Learning does not attempt to change the established educational processes. Instead, the organization enables more young women to take advantage of what is already there.

Oprah expects “her girls” to become world leaders. Growth through Learning expects its girls to become family and community leaders. During the past decade GTL students have entered the fields of education, health care, justice, journalism, conservation, and business.

Unlike Oprah, who is personally able to fund her school, funding for GTL scholarship fees comes mostly from the pockets of average hardworking, concerned donors.

Since 1997 Growth Through Learning has granted 1156 scholarships to 475 different students. In many cases school fees have been paid for a student’s entire secondary education, the period of which varies from four to six years.

GTL envisions a world where all women receive the education they need to realize their own potential and fulfill their aspirations for themselves, their families and community. Like Oprah, they are accomplishing this, one girl at a time.