Educate Girls Wins Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025, Becomes First Indian NGO to Receive Asia’s Highest Honor

The Indian non-profit organization Educate Girls, which works to promote education for girls, has been named one of the winners of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025. With this honor, Educate Girls becomes the first Indian institution to receive Asia’s highest recognition.

In the past 18 years, the organization has successfully enrolled over 2 million girls from underprivileged and remote areas into schools. It aims to break cultural taboos and social barriers by ensuring girls receive quality education and life skills that empower them to reach their full human potential.

Founded in 2007 by Safina Hussain, a graduate of the London School of Economics, the organization began its work in Rajasthan. Safina returned to India from San Francisco with the mission to combat female illiteracy and empower girls through education.

Educate Girls’ CEO Gayatri Nair Lobo said, “Education is a fundamental right for every girl. This award recognizes the transformative change we aim for—removing social and systemic barriers to make education accessible to all.”

Historic Moment for India

Speaking on the achievement, founder Safina Hussain said, “This is a historic moment for India. As we work to reach 10 million learners in the next decade and expand beyond India, we are amplifying the truth that when a girl is educated, she educates others—bringing change to families, generations, and entire nations.”

Other Award Winners

According to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, the award recognizes “greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia.” The other winners of 2025 include Shahina Ali from Maldives for her work in environmental activism and Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva from the Philippines for his humanitarian contributions.

The 67th Ramon Magsaysay Award ceremony will be held on November 7 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.