Oprah Winfrey will transition the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy of Girls to a scholarship program after 2027.
Oprah Winfrey announced this week that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy of Girls in South Africa will cease operations in its current form at the end of 2027. The academy, which Winfrey invested hundreds of millions of dollars into, will transition its operations to local provincial government officials who will continue to operate the facility as a school. Following the closure, Winfrey will shift her focus to an expanded scholarship program for girls. This new model is expected to be double the amount of girls who will have access to education compared to the current academy. Since opening in 2007, more than 1,000 girls from disadvantaged communities have graduated from the Winfrey academy. Winfrey stated that her mission is to invest in the young women's potential and that the next chapter will allow her to reach more girls across South Africa. The provincial government will take over the facility, while Winfrey ensures that the remaining students graduate from top-tier schools with their tuition paid in full.