Oprah Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in 2007 to provide elite education to academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Funded largely by her own money and praised by Nelson Mandela, the school was intended as a long-term investment in future women leaders.
Early on, the academy faced serious challenges, including abuse allegations against a dormitory matron. Oprah publicly apologized, traveled to South Africa, met with families, and restructured leadership. Though the staff member was later acquitted, the damage to trust and public perception was significant.
In 2011, a tragic incident involving a student who secretly gave birth on campus exposed gaps in supervision and mental health support. Despite ongoing scrutiny, the school was never shut down. Oprah continued funding it, strengthened safeguarding policies, and expanded student services.
Today, the academy is still operating, with graduates attending universities in South Africa and abroad. Its legacy is complex—marked by early failures, accountability, reform, and outcomes that rarely receive the same attention as controversy.
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