Oprah’s Angel Network

In KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, the original Seven Fountains Primary School had no windows, no electricity and no running water. After learning about this school’s plight, Oprah’s Angel Network committed to building a new school for the community. In 2007 the doors opened on a new Seven Fountains.

Today the new school provides a safe, nurturing and energy-efficient environment for more than 1,000 boys and girls in grades R through 7. Not only children benefit from the school. Training classes are offered there for adults and during the building of the school, local labor was used whenever possible. Learn more about the building of the school and check out the grand opening in the following video clip:

Seven Fountains Primary School has helped open new doors for Winnie.

© 2006 Oprah's Angel Network

Built by the Community, for the Community

Even before the doors of the new school opened, Seven Fountains was creating opportunities within the community. During the construction of the school, local labor and local resources were used whenever possible. Also, mothers of students at the school went to an adobe brick-making workshop, giving them the skills they needed to help contribute to the building of the school. Later, the mothers were able to use their brick-making skills to make improvements to their own homes.

Another way the community benefits from the school is through the access it provides to a library, sports fields and computers. Before the new Seven Fountains was built, the community didn’t have access to these types of resources.

© 2006 Oprah's Angel Network, photo by Angela Buckland

© 2006 Oprah's Angel Network, photo by Angela Buckland

© 2007 Oprah's Angel Network, photo by Angela Buckland

© 2007 Oprah's Angel Network, photos by Angela Buckland

Local labor was used whenever possible during the construction of the school, creating a sense of pride and ownership in the community.

By attending brick-making workshops, mothers were able to contribute to the building of the school and learn valuable skills for their future.

The stocked library shelves ...

... and the computers at Seven Fountains provide students and adults with a window to the world.

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