Proud mother: Oprah Winfrey joins her ‘daughters’ at their graduation ceremony in South African on Saturday

She complemented the design by wearing striking eyeshadow and teased her hair into soft waves along with a pair of avocado coloured drop earrings.

Oprah, 57, described herself as a proud mother during the momentous occasion which involved classes of singing and dancing young ladies celebrating their success dressed in demure white frocks.



People in high places: The philanthropist did her best to hold back tears as the Nelson Mandela’s wife Graca Machel embraced her

She said: ‘I have never been more proud to know, to grow, and to call myself Mam Oprah to you girls.’

Listing the blows they have experienced: ‘Divorce. Violence. Molestation. The loss of one parent. The loss of another parent. Sorrow. Sadness. Grief,’ Winfrey also praised the teachers, administrators, social workers, psychologists and family members she said had ensured the students succeeded by starting early and staying late.


Fighting back tears through the applause, one of her 72 students graduating out of 75 who started, took to the podium to speak which prompted more reaction from the star who has been dubbed the richest African American of the 20th Century.

Mashadi Kekana said: “Mam Oprah, thank you for showing us that we’re not just girls, but girls with greater purpose in this world.”

Founded in 2007 with $40 million from Oprah, the school has faced criticism for focusing on a select few in a country that struggles to meet basic education needs.

Momentous day: The star was joined by Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, for the ceremony in Henley-on-Klep

Looking gorgeous: The 57-year-old wore a Grecian green gown to celebrate

The American television personality added: ‘When you invest in the leadership of girls, you invest in the leadership of a nation.


‘Because every one of these girls will serve herself, her family, her community and this country, in ways that are yet to amaze you. Just wait to be amazed by these girls.’

Today Oprah also welcomed a special guest in the form of Graca Machel, wife of former South Africa president, Nelson Mandela.

The pair hugged and beamed at each other as families and the world’s media observed their union.

Winfrey told reporters after the ceremony that her girls would continue to be able to rely on her support. A counseling unit had been set up to help all the graduates budget time, money and priorities while in university.

The Class of 2011: Her girls were decked out in angelic white uniforms

Friday was more of a light-hearted day on the educational premises.

She was seen laughing, joking and dancing with the young women, whom she apparently teaches in classes via satellite.

Her graduating students are all headed to universities across South Africa and the United States, undergoing courses in various subjects including medicine, law, engineering and economics.

Oprah says she is cut out for the job because she hasn’t forgotten her roots.

So proud: The world’s media watched on as the TV personality spoke about all 72 girls’ achievements

Across South Africa, more than half a million members of the class of 2011 disappeared before the 496,000 remaining took their final exams, and only a quarter of those who graduated did well enough to qualify for university study, according to government figures.


She said: ‘I know what it’s like to be a poor girl with your heart’s desire to do well in the world. I chose to use my philanthropy to do what I know.’

While the venture has proved rewarding and fruitful, it has not always been an easy ride for founder Oprah.

Shortly after the school was opened, a dormitory matron was accused of abusing teenagers.

The former chat show host, who has spoken out about being abused as a child, said she was ‘profoundly’ disappointed when the woman was acquitted in 2010.

Happy days: Yesterday was less emotional as she sang and danced with her students

Five years ago, 11-and 12-year-old girls arrived who had never used a computer before. They went  to primary schools that lacked enough desks and chairs and were raised by grandmothers or older siblings after losing parents to AIDS or cancer. 

Winfrey notes the graduates were born in 1994, the year apartheid ended…she stated “You are free. You are free to rise. You are free to soar.” Later, Oprah Winfrey was in tears as she is joined by Nelson Mandela’s wife at her South African girls’ school graduation.

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PRESENTED BY AKWA IBOM STATE ASSOCIATION JACKSONVILLE

presented by Akwa Ibom State Association, Jacksonville Chapter

PAST EVENTS 2010

*Ladies Hat Banquet

*African Village Dance Performance at World of Nations Celebration

*Feeding the Homeless with Clara White Mission

*Women’s Help Center of Jacksonville

*Feeding & Clothing the Homeless with Rescue Mission, Jacksonville.

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We want to know and maintain the behavior of our Spiritual Roots. Before the advent of Modern World religion, there was the world’s belief. These beliefs incorporate science, religion, healing, faith, and destiny. It is a simpler reality.

As we move from one power center to the next, we are very interested in the local indigenous group. Coming next are Savannah, Mexico, Hawaii.

Who would come?

Those who have an interest and questions about alternative ways to health the body, mind and spirit.

• Those who want to have healing experiences will be here.
• Those who offer healing services for mind, body and spirit will be here.
• Those who are interested in culture, history, and art will find a solace here.
• Those who love humanity and believe life is everyone’s precious gift will be here.

We Believe

There are many paths toward Healing and Spiritual Enlightenment. We respect all Indigenous cultures. We want to support and preserve through education and exposure, the practices of these cultures. We represent a variety of cultural voices.

We believe that education is the key to lifting groups out of impoverished health and resources. We support the work of One.org, Heifer International, and C.A.R.E. We donate, time, money, and signature to these works.

It is a simpler reality. We want to know and maintain the behavior of our Spiritual Roots. Before the advent of Modern World religion, there was the world’s belief. These beliefs incorporate science, religion, healing, faith, and destiny.

What We Do

We take you there. We put together the thinkers and practitioners in one place to demonstrate for your benefit.

We create opportunities to learn and experience the diversity of our world. These can be through lecture and demonstration, performances, interactive programs, services and personal counseling and travel.

• Multi-cultural vendors fill the Global Marketplace.
• Authors and practitioners lead sessions.
• Learn and experience the life of wisdom keepers from Americans, Native, Meso, South.
• Discover the African diaspora from Latin, Caribbean, and North America.
• Become intelligent about Yoruba, Ifa, Akan.
• Find the genesis of Yoga from Hindi and Egypt.
• Validate the long history of acupuncture, tai chi, fengsui, and Chinese medicine.
• Readings
• Reflexology
• Massage

How you get Involved

Move My Spirit Tour

October 30, 2010

American Beach Community Center

Jacksonville, FL

Register

• Attend Move My Spirit Tour
• Be a vendor in the Global Marketplace
• Be a presenter ( authors and sponsors)
• Sponsor (write or call for sponsor packet)

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Sister Cities is an International nonprofit organization that creates and promotes economic and cultural partnerships between the United States and cities around the world.

Jacksonville has Sister and Friendship cities in Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa and South Korea. We strive to promote cultural understanding, foster educational exchanges and stimulate economic development between our city and our “sisters.”

African Business and Cultural Summit – 3 Day Event

This year we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the twinning of Jacksonville and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (formerly known as Port Elizabeth). The summit is sponsored by the City of Jacksonville, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Sun City Events & Entertainment, UnIversity of North Florida, RL Campbell Management Services, Enterprise Florida and Jacksonville Sister Cities Association.

The purpose of the African Business and Cultural Summit is to foster trade dialogue between corporate, small businesses, non-profits, and individuals. Our secondary purpose is to create community-wide awareness of Jacksonville Sister Cities Association’s Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Committee’s efforts to work in partnership with our African Sister City and the African continent.

Target audience includes corporations, small businesses, cultural organizations, professionals and students. The three-day event is free, seating is limited, and registration is required. Registration occurring after 12pm on Tuesday, September 13 will be responsible for their own lunch on Friday September 17, 2010.

Click here for details > http://nelsonmandelasummit.eventbrite.com/

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Image by Blacksonville Community Network via Flickr

Faramawy is directly responsible for Microsoft’s operations in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) Area. MEA is one of 13 areas that comprise Microsoft’s worldwide operations. It represents one of Microsoft’s fastest growing and dynamic markets and certainly its most diverse one. Microsoft MEA operates through 30 offices and covers more than 70 countries across three continents.

Throughout his 20-year career in the IT industry, Faramawy has held different technical, sales and managerial roles in different parts of the Middle East and Europe with companies such as Dun & Bradstreet Software, NCR Corporation, Yokogawa Marex and, finally, Microsoft.

Faramawy joined Microsoft in October 1997, as the general manager of Microsoft Egypt. After a successful four years in that role, he moved on to assume additional responsibilities for the area of Eastern Mediterranean, which encompassed Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus & Malta.

In May 2002, Faramawy moved to take on the newly established position of regional director, in charge of sales, marketing and services for the Middle East and Africa region. He led the efforts to transform the company’s regional presence with a newly established regional headquarters and a much wider geographical presence. He was promoted to this position in April 2004.

Faramawy graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, majoring in computer science and automatic control and has an MBA, specialising in strategic marketing, from the University of Hull in the UK. He is married and has two sons. He loves the IT industry and its ability to empower people and transform industries. He is passionate about the future of people in emerging markets. He also enjoys music, reading and the occasional round of golf.

Ultimately the mission of Microsoft is to enable sustained social and economic opportunity for those at the middle and bottom of the world’s economic pyramid—the next 5 billion people.  In the short term, Unlimited Potential aims to reach the next 1 billion people by 2015 by exploring solutions in three key interrelated areas. Each is crucial to developing sustained economic opportunity:

• Transforming education
• Fostering local innovation
• Enabling jobs and opportunities

In these three areas, Microsoft Unlimited Potential can create the greatest possible impact in building a virtuous cycle of sustained social and economic development. This cycle drives communities; helps build connections to form new communities; is fuelled by local and global partnerships; and, most importantly, ultimately becomes locally sustainable. Sustainability is a key indicator of effective programs and activities, and is our long-term measure of success.

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/about/executivebiographies/aliFaramawy.mspx

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Over the last 30 years, black America has experienced phenomenal growth in both its business leadership class and its actual number of millionaires. These self-employed entrepreneurs and corporate executives have come to be defined by what is now acknowledged as the “New Black Power.” As the August 1997 Fortune magazine proclaimed, from Wall Street to Hollywood, a new generation of African-Americans is seizing real power in the world of business. Within the music industry, young hip-hop artists are using hit records as a stepping-stone to business development and ownership. They are ambitious on a scale their predecessors never dared to reach for, and the most savvy members of the generation understand, in no uncertain terms, that money is power. It is this generations’ focus on wealth accumulation that distinguishes them from their predecessors.

read more by Mrs. Gibbs >

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