Asia's highest honor awarded to the community-led initiative that brought over two million girls back to school

NEW DELHI – Educate Girls, a leading Indian social organization, has been honored with the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award. This marks the first time an Indian organization has received Asia's highest honor. The award recognizes Educate Girls for challenging irrational cultural norms around girls' education, freeing them from illiteracy, and empowering them with skills, courage, and self-reliance.

Educate Girls now joins the prestigious ranks of global luminaries like Satyajit Ray, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Kiran Bedi, Vinoba Bhave, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, and Oscar-winner Hayao Miyazaki.

Safeena Husain, founder of Educate Girls, said, “This achievement is for our team, our girl volunteers, partners, supporters, and, above all, the girls who reclaimed their biggest strength—education. In the next ten years, Educate Girls aims to reach over ten million learners. The plan is now to share this Indian model with other parts of the world so that every girl can claim her right to education. We are confident that when a girl gets an education, its impact isn't limited to her life; it empowers the entire community.”

Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO of Educate Girls, said, “For us, education is not just a tool for development but every girl's fundamental right. This recognition is a testament to the fact that when the government, corporations, donors, and the community work together, deep-rooted social and structural challenges can be transformed. We are grateful for the efforts and support of the Government of India, which has made this mission possible. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Shahina Ali of Maldives and Father Flaviano Villanueva of the Philippines, whose work has inspired us all.”

Established in 2007, Educate Girls has expanded its reach to over 30,000 villages. With the support of more than 55,000 community volunteers, the organization has motivated over 2 million girls to join schools and improved the learning outcomes for more than 2.4 million children.

In the future, Educate Girls aims to reach well over 10 million children to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy through education.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to individuals and organizations that have brought about deep-rooted change in society with courage and innovation. In 2025, the honor was awarded to India's Educate Girls, Shahina Ali of Maldives, and Father Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva of the Philippines. Shahina Ali was recognized for her efforts in combating plastic pollution and protecting the marine ecosystem, while Father Villanueva was honored for restoring the dignity of the homeless and impoverished people of Manila.

All 2025 awardees will be formally presented with the honor at the 67th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Ceremony, held at the Metropolitan Theater in Metro Manila, Philippines, on November 7, 2025. They will receive a medal and a certificate. The event will be live-streamed on the foundation's official Facebook and YouTube channels.