Oprah Winfrey has announced plans to close the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa by the end of 2027. The school, which opened in 2007, has educated over 1,000 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds over the past two decades.
The transition will see the provincial government take over the facility and continue operating it as a school. Current students will complete their studies, with those remaining at the time of handover being transferred to other leading institutions. Winfrey has committed to covering their tuition through graduation.
From School to Scholarship Program
Rather than ending her support, Winfrey is shifting focus to a wider scholarship initiative designed to reach twice as many young women across South Africa. This new model aims to build on the success of the academy’s graduates, many of whom have pursued higher education and positively impacted their families.
"The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women," Winfrey said in a statement. She views this reinvention as a natural progression after 20 years of nurturing talent through the academy.
Legacy and Challenges
Despite early challenges, including a serious but ultimately disproven abuse allegation against a staff member, the academy has become a landmark institution. Winfrey has described it as her "greatest legacy" and a source of immense joy.
The new scholarship program is set to launch once the current student body graduates, promising to expand opportunities for young women across the country.
