Oprah Winfrey

In honor of Women’s History Month Oprah highlighted SHARE founder, Shannon McNamara, as an “exceptional female” in March 2009. Oprah has featured SHARE on Oprah Radio, and has published two SHARE stories on the Oprah’s Angel Network.

Oprah's Angel Network Essay   Oprah Radio Transcript 
Click "Read more" to read Oprah's coverage of SHARE.

Oprah Radio – Transcript of Radio Broadcast – June 2009

INTERVIEWER SAYS:

“The Oprah Network started with a simple idea. We all have the power to make a difference in the world and so many of you are doing just that.” "Meet 15 year old Shannon. She’s a giver.”

SHANNON MCNAMARA SAYS:

“I started SHARE, Shannon’s After-school Reading Exchange."

"It’s a program designed to empower African girls through education, to improve life for themselves, their families, and their whole communities.”

“I sent around flyers to all my neighbors and to my family and friends, asking them to donate books and school supplies to give to different schools and libraries."

"There are about 60 kids in a classroom, and there is 5 kids seated at a desk that can only seat 2.”

"Even when you pull out a pencil and you give a girl, what they’ll do is they will break it into two or three pieces so that they can give it to their friends so that way everyone can have one, because pencils are so rare."

"And that’s the lack of opportunity that SHARE is trying to address.”

INTERVIEWER SAYS:

“For more great stories, visit us at oprahsangelnetwork.org”

Oprah’s Angel Network Member Stories -- Sharing a Vision for Girls Summer 2008 http://oprahsangelnetwork.org/stories/545-sharing-a-vision-for-girls

When my family and I traveled to Africa last summer, I created something that has been life-changing for me—a program for girls called SHARE, which is an acronym for Shannon’s After-school Reading Exchange. SHARE is dedicated to empowering African girls through education to improve life for themselves, their families and communities. With SHARE I’ve been able to witness and make such amazing things happen.

My family and I traveled to Tanzania in July 2008 to volunteer with Global Citizen’s Network (GCN). Before I went, I asked the contact in Tanzania what the needs of the community were. He gave me a long list, and one dealt with educating girls. To fulfill my Girl Scout Gold Award Project we agreed that I would start an after-school program for girls. I spent a month collecting 1,200 children’s books and school materials in town. We brought the donations with us on the airplane.

A classroom was donated by the Kiteyagwa Primary School, which is in a rural village outside of Bukoba. With help from my fellow GCN volunteers, we spent a week cleaning, repairing and painting the room, as well as adding glass windows, a secure door, a bookshelf and signs. The school has no running water or electricity, and I won’t talk about the “bathroom” facilities! Renovating the room was the easy part—the real challenge was to convince the parents to let their daughters join the SHARE program. Young girls in Tanzania struggle to become literate because they are expected to do the cooking, cleaning, farming and caring for siblings, instead of pursuing their studies.

I spoke at three parent meetings, where the headmistress, Ms. Justina, now the SHARE coordinator, translated my words and then spoke about the importance of educating girls. While most parents agreed, several declined, preferring their daughters to come home and perform household chores instead.

Right now the SHARE program is a huge success, with 51 primary school girls learning to read English, exchanging ideas and working together to build a better future in a safe and secure classroom. I can’t wait to go there this summer, as I am planning on opening up a second SHARE room in another village school.

SHARE started off as my Girl Scout Gold Award, but it turned into something much bigger than I could have ever imagined. It’s a chance for me to really make a difference and change the lives of girls who are less fortunate than me—yet they have double the amount potential and determination of anyone I’ve ever seen. Being able to help these girls and see their smiles as they realize that they have a chance to improve their lives is worth more than anything I’ve ever known. These girls are my heroes. They walk miles to school each day in their bare feet, have no food from when they wake up to after school when it’s dinner, and at school, there are 70 kids to a classroom, with five kids at a desk that should seat two. That is why I am continuing my commitment to SHARE by involving the Basking Ridge community in New Jersey, which is so eager to help. We have done fundraising, book drives and I’ve given talks for local groups (girl scouts, boy scouts and churches).

Last month we collected, sorted, labeled and shipped 8,000-plus children’s books to Africa. I’m amazed at how many students at my high school, and other people in town, are reaching out to help. It seems everyone feels a little connected to the plight of these girls in Africa. When my family and I return to Bukoba this summer, I will be bringing with me the good wishes of everyone in my community.

http://oprahsangelnetwork.org/stories/545-sharing-a-vision-for-girls Oprah’s Angel Network Member Stories --- A Return Trip to SHARE in Africa Summer 2009

A return trip to Africa affirmed a member's commitment to helping children read.

I have seen girls walking to school in bare feet with empty stomachs. These girls crave an education that my friends and I take for granted every day. They want a better life for themselves, and they’re willing to work hard to achieve it.

I learned that getting simple jobs done in a developing country is harder than it is here. While repairing the classroom we ran out of paintbrushes and it took all day to find new ones. There is no Home Depot! And when we looked to purchase a bookshelf we could not find one in the entire city. When I returned to Tanzania the second time I had a better understanding of the culture and when things went wrong I responded with “Hakuna Matata”, which means “no worries” in Swahili.

A memorable experience: Last summer when my family and I returned to Tanzania, we made a “surprise” visit to the Kiteyagwa Primary school where I had first started SHARE, an after-school reading program.

As I was hiking down the beaten path to the school, the same long path the SHARE girls travel multiple times a day, I couldn’t help but feel nervous about meeting them again. A year is long time, and I had some doubts in my mind that they wouldn’t even remember who I was.

As I approached the school yard, I found it to be dead silent. There were no people walking about, or kids talking. Granted, this was 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, but I thought a SHARE program might be meeting. As I walked closer to the SHARE room, there was silence yet dozens of shoes outside the doorway, I entered the room anyway to see if by chance someone was there and saw SHARE girls working quietly at their desks, studying English together!

A song celebrated this member's return to Africa.

There were no teachers or adults supervising the girls, yet that didn’t stop the SHARE girls from pursuing their studies. Upon hearing me, all of the girls looked up and I was immediately flooded with shouts of “Shannon! Shannon! Shannon is back!” as the girls ran towards me, jumping, hugging. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as wide in my entire life as I did in that moment. Not only had the girls not forgotten me, but I had witnessed their quiet determination. And that is exactly what SHARE is all about.

The ironic thing is I feel they have given me so much. For example, during the Kiteyagwa Opening Ceremony of music and dancing to welcome us back, one song especially stood out to me. The first time I heard it I had to do a double take to listen if I really understood the lyrics properly. The refrain went, “We thank you, we thank you Shannon. You are kind and ensure our future’s bright.” I couldn’t believe that the SHARE girls had written a song for and about me! It was an amazing visit that left an indelible impression on me.

http://oprahsangelnetwork.org