Potential to Change the World

Posted: February 28, 2007

by Jill Anderson

Sonya Anderson with Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy student Sonya Anderson, Ed.D.'05, will be the first person to tell you that the excitement that comes with her job isn't limited to working with Oprah Winfrey. In fact, the part she relishes most is the potential that her work has to change young girls' lives.

As education program director for the Oprah Winfrey Foundations, Anderson is the main educational decision-maker behind the development of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. The school -- which is exclusively dedicated to educating South African girls -- opened on January 2 of this year.

"People often say to me, 'Oh, you work for Oprah that must be the most amazing job ever.' But I've had a lot of amazing jobs," Anderson says. "What's unique about this job is the direct and immediate impact you can have on a child's life. The benefits don't have to trickle down through several layers before the child eventually benefits. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy is changing the lives of its students, here and now, from the very outset."

The past year and a half since Anderson started working at the foundation have focused exclusively on the leadership academy. The school is situated on 52 acres of land just outside of Johannesburg. It is currently home to 151 girls in grades 7 and 8, who come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and show tremendous academic and leadership potential. Over the next four years, the school will continue to recruit girls, adding an additional grade each year. By 2011, the school will offer grades 7–12 and be occupied by 450 girls.

Anderson played a key role in developing the education systems of the school, creating policies and developing processes for selecting students, teachers, and education consultants. With nearly 10 trips to South Africa under her belt, some days Anderson finds herself discussing "lofty" educational goals and ideas and, at other times, scooping ice cream at a karaoke party. She credits her ability to do this job to her real world education, but also to her experience at HGSE which allowed her to build her global sense.

"Harvard had one of the best international education programs," she says. "I came as someone who had been working for a number of years, so I was clear about why I was there, what I wanted to learn, what I needed, and what I wanted to do with the degree. I felt like the Ed School could give me whatever I needed."

During her stay at HGSE, she never forgot that she would eventually have to re-enter the "real world" and continue her career in international education. So, she worked part-time as a consultant on a number of international development projects, based on previous experience working internationally for organizations like the Ford Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a result, upon graduation, jobs found their way to her.

With her experience and knowledge of girls' education, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation was a natural fit. Within two weeks of being recommended for the job, Anderson found herself flying to Chicago, where the foundation is headquartered. Although Anderson considers getting the job to be "serendipity," it is no doubt that her invaluable experience and expertise in African girls' education was appealing for the foundation, which began building the academy in 2002.

"[The academy] is something that has been in the works for five or six years, so to have it come to fruition is incredible," she says. "The only thing that has ended is the construction project -- the education of these girls has just begun. Now is when the real fun begins. What counts is what happens from January 2 on, and the foundation is in it for the long haul."

In South Africa -- similar to many developing countries -- girls experience several road bumps to expanding their education. Anderson explains that sometimes it is cultural expectations that girls should be caretakers, and other times it can be economic, religious, or social reasons that girls do not receive education.

In recent years, the focus on girls' education has expanded internationally. "An educated girl grows into an educated woman, and research shows that educated women have fewer children, are in better health, have children who are in better health, and are more involved in family and community decision-making -- that's just one of the reasons why girls' education has become a priority," Anderson says.

The highlight of Anderson's current work with the foundation is also one of the most meaningful parts of her job: interviewing prospective students for admission to the school.

"I'm sitting across from a girl, and I know that the entire trajectory of her life could change in an instant and I know that she has the potential to change the world," Anderson says. "Her entire life from that point on is going to change and that is a phenomenal feeling with tremendous responsibility."


Events Features & Releases e-Newsletters Ed. Magazine HGSE in the Media Webcasts Harvard Education Publishing Group	News Features & Releases Potential to Change the World Posted: February 28, 2007 by Jill Anderson Sonya Anderson, Ed.D.'05, will be the first person to tell you that the excitement that comes with her job isn't limited to working with Oprah Winfrey. In fact, the part she relishes most is the potential that her work has to change young girls' lives. As education program director for the Oprah Winfrey Foundations, Anderson is the main educational decision-maker behind the development of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. The school -- which is exclusively dedicated to educating South African girls -- opened on January 2 of this year. "People often say to me, 'Oh, you work for Oprah that must be the most amazing job ever.' But I've had a lot of amazing jobs," Anderson says. "What's unique about this job is the direct and immediate impact you can have on a child's life. The benefits don't have to trickle down through several layers before the child eventually benefits. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy is changing the lives of its students, here and now, from the very outset." The past year and a half since Anderson started working at the foundation have focused exclusively on the leadership academy. The school is situated on 52 acres of land just outside of Johannesburg. It is currently home to 151 girls in grades 7 and 8, who come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and show tremendous academic and leadership potential. Over the next four years, the school will continue to recruit girls, adding an additional grade each year. By 2011, the school will offer grades 7–12 and be occupied by 450 girls. Anderson played a key role in developing the education systems of the school, creating policies and developing processes for selecting students, teachers, and education consultants. With nearly 10 trips to South Africa under her belt, some days Anderson finds herself discussing "lofty" educational goals and ideas and, at other times, scooping ice cream at a karaoke party. She credits her ability to do this job to her real world education, but also to her experience at HGSE which allowed her to build her global sense. "Harvard had one of the best international education programs," she says. "I came as someone who had been working for a number of years, so I was clear about why I was there, what I wanted to learn, what I needed, and what I wanted to do with the degree. I felt like the Ed School could give me whatever I needed." During her stay at HGSE, she never forgot that she would eventually have to re-enter the "real world" and continue her career in international education. So, she worked part-time as a consultant on a number of international development projects, based on previous experience working internationally for organizations like the Ford Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a result, upon graduation, jobs found their way to her. With her experience and knowledge of girls' education, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation was a natural fit. Within two weeks of being recommended for the job, Anderson found herself flying to Chicago, where the foundation is headquartered. Although Anderson considers getting the job to be "serendipity," it is no doubt that her invaluable experience and expertise in African girls' education was appealing for the foundation, which began building the academy in 2002. "[The academy] is something that has been in the works for five or six years, so to have it come to fruition is incredible," she says. "The only thing that has ended is the construction project -- the education of these girls has just begun. Now is when the real fun begins. What counts is what happens from January 2 on, and the foundation is in it for the long haul." In South Africa -- similar to many developing countries -- girls experience several road bumps to expanding their education. Anderson explains that sometimes it is cultural expectations that girls should be caretakers, and other times it can be economic, religious, or social reasons that girls do not receive education. In recent years, the focus on girls' education has expanded internationally. "An educated girl grows into an educated woman, and research shows that educated women have fewer children, are in better health, have children who are in better health, and are more involved in family and community decision-making -- that's just one of the reasons why girls' education has become a priority," Anderson says. The highlight of Anderson's current work with the foundation is also one of the most meaningful parts of her job: interviewing prospective students for admission to the school. "I'm sitting across from a girl, and I know that the entire trajectory of her life could change in an instant and I know that she has the potential to change the world," Anderson says. "Her entire life from that point on is going to change and that is a phenomenal feeling with tremendous responsibility."

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