When Oprah Winfrey opened her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, she remarked about the spirit and the optimism of the girls. In spite of their meager living conditions, these girls believed themselves to be future doctors, lawyers and world leaders. They presented themselves eloquently and were full of hope. Oprah said meeting these girls represented the perfect moment when "preparation meets opportunity."

Many girls in the United States are not prepared! They are not poised and eloquent. They belittle one another in order to deflect their own pain and suffering. To sit among them is to find oneself shocked and appalled at the language and the presentation. However, the girls are not to blame, they simply have not been taught the importance of manners, poise and effective communication. Project Bloom aims to change that. Geared towards 9-12 year olds, the "Be Prepared" Program teaches these skills to girls and stresses the importance of being prepared for any opportunity that might present itself. Over several sessions, information is presented in a fun and dynamic way. Participants are broken into small groups and given practice exercises. When the girls are "prepared" they partake in a fine dining experience at a local restaurant, where they beautifully execute that which they have learned.