A Landmark Moment for indian Social Impact
In a historic achievement,
Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, popularly known as
‘Educate Girls’, has become the
first indian non-profit organisation (NPO) to win the prestigious
Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize.The award citation by the
Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) lauded Educate Girls for its
commitment to breaking cultural stereotypes and empowering girls through education, giving them “skills, courage, and agency to achieve their full human potential.”
Journey of Educate Girls
Founded in
2007 by Safeena Husain, an alumna of the
London School of Economics, the NGO began its work in Rajasthan, focusing on enrolling out-of-school girls and ensuring they stayed in classrooms until they completed formal education.Key milestones:Launched the
world’s first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education in 2015.Expanded operations to
30,000+ villages, reaching over
2 million girls.Maintains a
retention rate of over 90% across its programs.
Founder Safeena Husain Reacts
Calling it a
“historic moment”, Safeena Husain said:“This recognition places a global spotlight on India's people-powered movement for girls' education, one that began with a single girl in the remotest village and grew to reshape entire communities, challenging traditions and shifting mindsets.”
Other 2025 Awardees
Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva (Philippines): A priest who opposed extrajudicial killings and helped provide dignified burials for victims.
Shaahina Ali (Maldives): A diver who led large-scale clean-up drives to combat plastic pollution in her island nation.
Award Ceremony
The 67th
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies will be held on
November 7, 2025, at the
Metropolitan Theatre in Manila, where winners will receive a medallion, certificate, and cash prize.