Educate Girls Wins 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Education Efforts

India’s non-profit organization, Educate Girls, has made history by becoming the first Indian organization to receive the prestigious 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award. This accolade, regarded as Asia’s highest honor, recognizes the organization’s innovative model that has successfully brought over 2 million girls back into education.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate exemplary leadership in addressing social issues. Educate Girls was recognized for its efforts to combat cultural stereotypes through girl education, empowering young women by liberating them from illiteracy and equipping them with essential skills and confidence.

Transforming Communities Through Education

Founded in 2007, Educate Girls has mobilized over 55,000 volunteers and implemented programs across more than 30,000 villages. The organization aims to break the cycles of poverty and illiteracy, directly aligning with government initiatives to improve educational access. Its mission is to reach 10 million learners in the next decade, emphasizing systemic change through partnerships with government institutions.

Reflecting on this achievement, Safeena Husain, Founder of Educate Girls, stated, “This recognition places a global spotlight on India’s people-powered movement for girls’ education… This Award honours our dedicated Team Balika volunteers, valued partners, passionate gender champions, and supporters, and acknowledges the millions of girls who reclaimed their right to education.”

The impact of Educate Girls extends beyond individual learners. By focusing on educational empowerment, the organization fosters community-wide transformations, challenging deep-rooted traditions and shifting societal mindsets regarding women’s education.

Acknowledging Global Efforts

Alongside Educate Girls, the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award also honors Shaahina Ali from the Maldives for her work in combating plastic pollution, and Fr. Flaviano Villanueva from the Philippines for restoring dignity to the impoverished in Manila. The award ceremony is set to take place on November 7, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila, Philippines.

Educate Girls stands among a distinguished group of past laureates, including renowned figures such as filmmaker Satyajit Ray, singer M.S. Subbulakshmi, and Nobel Peace Prize winners like the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa.

Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO of Educate Girls, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This award is a tribute to what’s possible when governments, communities, and changemakers come together to break barriers and open doors.”

The global acknowledgment of Educate Girls highlights the profound impact of investing in girls’ education and serves as a reminder of the collective effort required to create lasting change in society. The organization is committed to continuing its work, believing firmly in the transformative power of education and its role in empowering future generations.