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Save the Children help Oprah Winfrey's 'favorite' guest
Anthony Karge
May 23, 2011

http://westport.patch.com/articles/save-the-children-help-oprah-winfreys-favorite-guest

With Oprah in her final season on the air, the Westport-based nonprofit was part of a dramatic surprise for her favorite guest.

Growing up in Zimbabwe, Tererai Trent had no access to electricity, running water or an education. When she was 11, she was married. When she was 18, she was the mother of three. Her husband beat her regularly.

Despite the odds, Trent managed to make it to the United States with the help of several aid groups. She's now a doctor, having received her Ph.D from Western Michigan University.

"It's my favorite story ever because it speaks to the power of what an individual can do and it doesn't matter where you come from," said Oprah Winfrey on her show that aired Friday. It was titled "Oprah's Favorite Guest Revealed."

After achieving success in the United States, Trent now wishes help the Matau Primary School in her home country.

"I feel I need to give back. It's not only about Terrerai," she said. "It's about thousands and millions of children that are out there [and] thousands of millions and girls that are not getting an education."

With the help of Winfrey and Westport-based Save the Children, that dream will come true. Winfrey announced that she's donated $1.5 to the organization. It was an emotional scene, with Trent crying in joy.

"I have a lot of faith in their work," Winfrey said of Save the Children. "In just a few months construction going to begin on the primary school campus there, which will educate nearly 1,000 children from your village."

Save the Children, whose headquarters is on 54 Wilton Rd., will be doing more than just building a school, said Winfrey.

"Education isn't about just bricks and mortar, Save the Children is going to spend 3 years working with teachers and children and parent sin the area to improve literacy and basic education, so ultimately 4,000 people will have a better education because of you," Winfrey said.

"We're going to build a school together."

The video of the surprise can be viewed on the Oprah Winfrey website.

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