The Legacy of the Magsaysay Prize
The Ramon Magsaysay Award, often described as Asia’s Nobel Prize, was established in 1957 to honor the former Philippine president known for integrity and service. It celebrates individuals and institutions that embody transformative leadership, selflessness, and impact across the continent. Over the decades, the award has recognized humanitarians, reformers, and visionaries whose work has shaped Asia’s social and cultural fabric.
India has been a prominent presence in this history. From Vinoba Bhave, the spiritual leader of the Bhoodan movement, to journalist Ravish Kumar, several Indians have been honored for pioneering contributions in social reform, journalism, leadership, and community development. With this year’s announcement, the tally of Indian laureates grows, but in a new way: for the first time, an Indian organisation—Educate Girls—has been conferred the prize.
An Indian NGO Makes History
The Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, better known as Educate Girls, has become the first Indian non-profit to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The Manila-based foundation praised 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.”
Founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain, Educate Girls began in two villages of Rajasthan—Pali and Jalore—areas identified for deep gender gaps in education. Today, the organisation operates across 30,000 villages, positively impacting more than two million girls. The journey is rooted in Husain’s own story: once a school dropout facing social stigma, she was encouraged back into education by a family friend. She went on to graduate from the London School of Economics, work with non-profits abroad, and return to India with a mission to bridge the education divide.
A Community-Centered Model
Educate Girls’ philosophy is that durable change cannot be imposed from outside; it must be nurtured within communities. To this end, the organisation pioneered the “Team Balika” model, recruiting local volunteers—both men and women—to act as champions of girls’ education in their own villages. This grassroots connection has been central to the group’s credibility and success.
Husain stresses that patriarchy, not just poverty, blocks girls from classrooms. She recalls instances where community resistance was overturned by local volunteers, proving that cultural change comes from within. The organisation’s work complements government programs, aligning with national goals to reintegrate out-of-school girls.
Innovation and Impact
Educate Girls has also been a trailblazer in funding and technology. It introduced India’s first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education, tying funding to measurable results. This data-driven model has helped refine strategies and ensured accountability. More recently, the organisation deployed artificial intelligence to identify “hotspots” with high concentrations of out-of-school girls, enabling targeted interventions and efficient resource use.
Such innovations, combined with a clear mission, have positioned Educate Girls as a model for scalable social change. Husain now envisions expanding beyond India, aspiring to reach 10 million learners globally through partnerships with like-minded organisations.
Other Laureates of 2025
Alongside Educate Girls, two others were honored this year. Shaahina Ali of the Maldives received the award for her marine conservation efforts, ensuring sustainability for future generations. From the Philippines, priest Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva was recognized for his tireless advocacy for the poor and marginalized, embodying service to humanity through faith-driven action.
A Recognition with Wider Meaning
Educate Girls’ Ramon Magsaysay Award is more than a recognition of one organisation—it is an acknowledgment of the transformative power of education to dismantle barriers of gender and poverty. It also underscores the importance of community-driven models that empower local voices to champion change.
For India, the award highlights not just its growing presence on the global humanitarian stage but also the urgency of addressing educational inequity within its borders. As Husain poignantly remarked, the day India believes all boys and girls are equal, the mission of Educate Girls will be fulfilled. Until then, the award is both an honor and a reminder: the struggle for every girl’s right to education continues, and it is a struggle worth winning.
(With agency inputs)
