Why in the News?
“Educate Girls” is an Indian NGO that aims to empower girl children through education. Owing to it’s contributions, the NGO has won the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award. Moreover, it is the first Indian organization (not individual) to be honored with this award.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is also known as “Asia’s Nobel Prize.”
Introduction
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has honored three winners for 2025:
- India’s “Educate Girls” foundation aims to empower girls through education.
- Shaahina Ali of the Maldives for ocean conservation.
- Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva of the Philippines for his service to the homeless.
Furthermore, the award honors leaders who serve their communities selflessly and make a positive difference.
On August 31, 2025, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced its winners. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is one of Asia’s most esteemed awards for community service. Accordingly, the award honors individuals who demonstrate transformative leadership. Significantly, it is a proud moment for India, as this year, the Foundation “Educate Girls” received this award. Thus, “Educate Girls” is the first Indian organization to receive this prestigious award.
What is the Ramon Magsaysay Award?
The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 to honor the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay. With this intention, it is presented annually to individuals and organizations for exemplary leadership, integrity, and selfless service. Accordingly, each November, on Magsaysay’s birthday, the winners are announced, and a grand presentation ceremony takes place in Manila. Winners receive a medallion, certificate, and cash award. Further, this recognizes their “greatness of spirit.”
With this in mind, the award honors individuals and organizations each year for their exceptional courage, integrity, and service to people.
1. Eligibility
The award does not specify any particular eligibility criteria. It honors individuals and organizations from Asia who demonstrate “greatness of spirit in selfless service to the people.”
2. Feature
Each awardee is presented with:
- Medallion with Magsaysay’s image
- Certificate
- Cash prize.
Who are the Indian Winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Award?
Vinoba Bhave, best known for the Indian Bhoodan Movement, is the first Indian to win the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1958. Owing to his community leadership, he received this award.
The recent winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Award are:
- Bezwada Wilson and T.M. Krishna (2016): Human Rights; Carnatic Music
- Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk (2018): Restoring Health and Dignity to Troubled Lives; Education for Community Progress
- Ravish Kumar (2019): Journalism
- Ravi Kannan R. (2023): Healthcare
- Educate Girls (2025): First Indian organization to win the award for their significant contributions towards girl child education.
Foundation to Educate Girls Globally
If we go in detail, the ‘Foundation to Educate Girls‘ is an Indian NGO led by its founder, Safeena Husain. The organization is particularly known for its innovative approach to combating cultural stereotypes. Together with the goal of empowering millions of young women and girls through education in rural India, the NGO uses a people-powered approach. This method has successfully returned more than two million girls to school. Thus, it is contributing to the income generation of females. In addition, this initiative enhances the gender equality ratio.
Coupled with the aim of the foundation to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty, it focuses on mobilizing communities and governments. Furthermore, the mission also expands to support girls’ education in rural and disadvantaged areas. Their motto is “One girl at a time.”
Initiatives of ‘Educate Girls‘
The NGO has undertaken the following initiatives:
1. Community mobilization: Identifying out-of-school girls, enrolling them, and retaining them accordingly.
2. Government partnerships: Scaling programs with state support.
3. Innovative finance: Launched the world’s first Development Impact Bond (2015) in education.
4. Pragati program: Open schooling for young women (15–29 years) to complete secondary education.
5. Impact: Now operates across 30,000 villages and benefits over 2 million girls. Additionally, it has a retention rate of over 90%.
Significance and Impact of ‘Educate Girls’ Winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award
Upon receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, India’s Foundation to Educate Girls Globally stands on the same pedestal as iconic laureates such as Vinoba Bhave, Mother Teresa, Kiran Bedi, and Satyajit Ray.
In addition, this award highlights the consistent call for people-led movements. It also shows the importance of change-making in education, environmental sustainability, and social justice in Asia.
Ramon Magsaysay Award Ceremony
The 67th Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation will take place on November 7, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. Accordingly, dignitaries, previous award recipients, and thousands of inspired people will gather to honor the winners.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Educate Girls winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025 is a significant achievement for India. Further, the NGO emphasizes the girl child’s education in India. Since it is the first Indian organization to receive this honor, it showcases the impact of community-driven initiatives. In addition, this recognition underscores the importance of empowering girls and inspires ongoing efforts toward gender equality. The upcoming ceremony in November will celebrate their vital work and encourage further action for the future of young girls.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2025, has been awarded to the Indian NGO “Educate Girls.” The organization particularly works to educate underprivileged girls across the country.
Mother Teresa was the first Indian woman to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1962.
Safeena Husain founded the organization Educate Girls in 2007.
Foundation to Educate Girls Globally
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has honored three winners for 2025:
✔️ India’s “Educate Girls” foundation, dedicated to empowering girls through education.
✔️Shaahina Ali of the Maldives for ocean conservation.
✔️ Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva of the Philippines for his service to the homeless.
