The media mogul says the new initiative will support even more South African girls while bringing to a close a school inspired by Nelson Mandela.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Running Africa) – Oprah Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will officially close at the end of the 2027 academic year, marking the end of a transformative 20-year chapter that has empowered hundreds of young women through education.

The acclaimed boarding school, located in Henley-on-Klip, Gauteng, opened its doors in 2007, following a vision inspired by a 2002 conversation between Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela. Created to provide world-class education for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged communities, the academy has become one of South Africa’s most recognized educational institutions.

Over the past two decades, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has produced graduates who have gone on to excel as doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, and business leaders, cementing its legacy as a powerful platform for female leadership and social transformation.

Oprah Winfrey Shifts Focus to National Scholarship Program

Announcing the decision, Winfrey revealed that her foundation will transition from operating a single-campus institution to launching a national scholarship program, a move designed to extend educational opportunities to significantly more young women across South Africa.

According to Winfrey, the new model will enable her philanthropic efforts to reach talented students in communities nationwide, expanding the academy’s impact beyond its physical campus.

“The dream that began with one academy will now reach even farther,” Winfrey said. “That promise doesn’t end here. It just keeps growing.”

Current Students to Receive Full Support

Winfrey confirmed that all students currently enrolled at the academy will continue to receive full financial support through graduation.

Students who have not yet completed their studies when the school closes in 2027 will be transferred to leading South African schools, with all educational costs covered by the Oprah Winfrey Foundation.

In line with the original agreement established when the academy was founded, the Henley-on-Klip campus will then be transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education.

Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Leaves Lasting Legacy

While the closure marks the end of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, its influence is expected to continue through the new scholarship initiative, which aims to broaden access to quality education for talented young women across South Africa.

The transition reflects Winfrey’s evolving vision for educational philanthropy—one focused on reaching more students, creating greater national impact, and continuing the mission that has shaped generations of future African leaders over the past two decades.