Angel from Soweto

While many of Mama Jackey's students have experienced unimaginable pain, they have also found great power through the recovery process.

"They use [pain] as fuel," Kip says. "They used what they went through as their inspiration—as what gave them their strength. Sharing that struggle together is what brought them sort of joy...and it was what helped them move forward."

By sharing personal struggles with their classmates, many of Mama Jackey's students are able to move on and mend their spirits. Oprah says she's still amazed how African children can live through such painful experiences and "still have a vibrancy and a love and a spirit that transcends all of that."

"A determined fight," Charlie says. "That's what we called it."