Oprah Winfrey will close her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa at the end of the 2027 academic year. The expansive boarding school campus, located near Johannesburg, will be handed over to local education authorities as per the original agreement.
This decision means students currently enrolled at OWLAG who will not have graduated by 2027 will receive full scholarships to continue their education elsewhere. More than 1,000 girls from underprivileged backgrounds have graduated from the school since its inception, inspired by Winfrey's meeting with anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in 2002.
The closure marks a significant shift in Winfrey's philanthropic approach to education in South Africa. The school, built at a cost of $40 million, has been a prominent symbol of private investment in education for disadvantaged youth. Its transition reflects a move towards a broader scholarship program, aiming to reach more young women across the country.
Winfrey, 72, stated that the dream was never simply to build a school but to invest in the limitless potential of young women. She emphasized that this mission continues through every girl whose future can be transformed by education. This next chapter will allow her foundation to reach even more young women across South Africa.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation denied online speculation that the closure was due to mismanagement. A PR consultant for the foundation clarified that Winfrey intends to continue her education project by funding a scholarship program. This program will support academically talented girls from various communities to attend leading schools throughout South Africa.
The Gauteng province's education department has expressed its commitment to preserving and advancing the academy's legacy. They will ensure the exceptional institution continues to serve the people of Gauteng while honoring its founding vision. The specific future use of the OWLAG campus once it is returned to local authorities remains unknown.
When OWLAG opened in 2007, some commentators criticized its lavish campus, which included two theatres, a yoga studio, and a beauty salon. They questioned whether the $40 million spent could have been better utilized to assist a larger number of students across the country. Months after its opening, the school also faced accusations of abuse against a former staff member, who was later cleared of all charges.
Currently, 281 students are enrolled at the school. Many graduates have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, executives, and entrepreneurs. Andronica Klaas, a 2012 graduate and now a senior engineering lead at tech giant Meta, highlighted the school's impact, stating that OWLAG convinced her that preparation, character, and purpose mattered more than her origins.
The shift from a single campus to a broader scholarship program could allow Winfrey's initiative to impact a wider demographic. This move aligns with a trend of philanthropic organizations seeking scalable solutions for educational development. The success of the new scholarship model will be closely watched by education stakeholders and the public.