The History of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa began as a promise made to Nelson Mandela in 2000. It wasn't until 2002 that the official groundbreaking took place in Henley on Klip in Gauteng province.

From the groundbreaking in December of 2002 it was a long process to build the 52 acre campus with 28 buildings. The campus includes dormitories, dining hall, libraries, 2 theaters, a wellness center, and much more to meet all needs of the girls attending. Oprah has made her intention clear in building the state-of-the-art academy -- she wanted to provide the girls with a place that inspired them to dream beyond what their life had previously shown them, to let them experience what the world has to offer.

January 2007 marked the official opening of the Leadership Academy -- a realization of a dream Oprah held for a very long time. The school opened with 152 girls, aged 11 and 12, who would be attending 7th and 8th grade classes. The girls were hand selected by Oprah out of more than 3000 applicants -- she was looking for girls who had such a light about them that even poverty could not put it out.

While at this time only the 7th and 8th grade classes are in session, each year the girls will progress until a 12th grade is created. When all grades are finally filled to capacity, the academy will boast more than 450 students. This goal will not be met, however, until the year 2011 -- the same year Oprah has stated she will retire from her then 25 year talk show.

Oprah has been a part of each step of the building process -- from helping design the layouts of the structures, to choosing the materials for the dormitories. The Leadership Academy is equipped for Oprah to teach a session via satellite from the US. Oprah is in the process of building herself a home on the grounds of the school. She has stated that, "I want to be near my girls and be in a position to see how they're doing."

Public criticisms have been made at Oprah's extravagance and luxury in creating a school that cost so much to build, over $40 million US dollars, but educated so few -- approximately 75 girls per class. Critics pointed out the fireplaces in the buildings, high thread count sheets, yoga classes and a beauty salon, among others. Many suggested Oprah's money could have been used to educate more students if those luxuries were spared.

Rebecca Traister of Salon.com came to Oprah's defense by stating:

Winfrey might have known that news of her students' swank surroundings might not wash with American critics, who don't bat an eye at white hotel heiresses dancing on banquettes, or reality shows about sweet-16 parties at budgets that could build a home for a Katrina victim.

But impoverished black girls sleeping on nice-ish sheets? That didn't go over so well. The affronted sense that these girls deserved only bare-minimum accommodations and that a private citizen's money should have been used to educate them in bulk rather than in gracious individual style reflects our own beliefs that the bare minimum is all poor (black) girls need.

It was less than a year from the time the school opened its doors that the first scandal was heard world-wide. Abuse accusations were made by students who had the courage to speak out against a female staff member of the school. Oprah responded immediately by flying to South Africa to handle the situation herself and began to make changes in the staff. In the January issue of O : The Oprah Magazine Oprah wrote, "I received another note from a friend with this wise saying: "Every time a heart cracks...somewhere, something beautiful is being born." I look forward to the rebirthing."