An Indian non-profit, Educate Girls, has created history by becoming the first Indian organisation to win the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize. The announcement was made by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), Manila.
Founded by Safeena Husain in 2007, Educate Girls has been working tirelessly to address the issue of female illiteracy in India by enrolling out-of-school girls, retaining them in classrooms, and ensuring quality learning outcomes.
Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025: Recognition of a Historic Mission
The RMAF citation praised Educate Girls “for its commitment to addressing cultural stereotyping through the education of girls and young women, liberating them from the bondage of illiteracy and infusing them with skills, courage, and agency to achieve their full human potential.”
Founder Safeena Husain, a graduate of the London School of Economics, described the honour as a historic moment for India, stating that it validates the mission to bring every girl child into the education system.
The formal award ceremony will take place on November 7, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila, where recipients will receive a medallion, citation, and cash prize.
The Journey of Educate Girls
Educate Girls began its work in Rajasthan, one of India’s most challenging states in terms of female literacy. Over the years, the organisation expanded its footprint to underserved regions across India.
Its community-driven approach involves mobilising volunteers, conducting school enrolment drives, and implementing retention programmes that ensure girls not only enter classrooms but also stay in school.
Scale, Innovation, and Impact
- Launched in 2015, Educate Girls pioneered the world’s first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education, an outcomes-linked financing model that became a global benchmark.
- The organisation started with 50 pilot schools and now works across 30,000 villages, reaching over two million girls, with a retention rate exceeding 90%.
- Its Pragati programme, an open-schooling initiative for young women aged 15–29, has grown from 300 learners to over 31,500 participants, offering pathways to education, certification, and livelihood opportunities.
These innovations have positioned Educate Girls as a leader in scalable social impact models, combining grassroots mobilisation with systemic change.
Global Recognition and Regional Peers
The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025 also honoured:
- Shaahina Ali of the Maldives for her environmental initiatives.
- Flaviano Antonio L Villanueva of the Philippines, a priest recognised for his lifelong defence of the poor and oppressed.
Edgar O. Chua, Chairperson of the RMAF, said the award continues to celebrate transformative leaders who embody integrity, courage, and compassion.
A Call to Expand the Movement
For Educate Girls, this award is both a validation of its impact and a call to expand its mission. It signals that grassroots efforts to educate girls in India can meet global standards of courage, compassion, and service.
As the November ceremony approaches, the Ramon Magsaysay Award not only shines a spotlight on Educate Girls’ work but also reinforces the belief that education is the most powerful tool to break cycles of poverty and inequality.
