Since 2002, Oprah Winfrey, 52, has planned to build the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Scheduled to be built on 52.7 acres of land south of Johannesburg, Winfrey personally told 73 girls, ages 11 and 12 who had been accepted to the school.

“I grew up with my Grandmother,” Winfrey said at Sunday’s event, “We had almost nothing, but my grandmother believed I had to give back what I received.”

In order to choose the girls that were accepted, Winfrey personally went through many of the 3,000 girls who applied, looking for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds who showed they had leadership abilities and intelligence.

“South Africa is like my second home and I want to give something here. I feel this project is blessed,” said Winfrey.

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