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The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025, Asia’s most prestigious honour, has been conferred on ‘Educate Girls’, an Indian non-profit organisation working to promote girls’ education in rural and remote areas. This marks the first time an Indian NGO has received this award, making it a historic milestone for the country.

About Educate Girls

• Founded by Safeena Husain, Educate Girls (also known as the Foundation to Educate Girls Globally) has been instrumental in addressing gender inequality in education.
• The organisationmobilises communities to enrol out-of-school girls, improve learning outcomes, and empower them to continue education.
• Its grassroots volunteers, known as Team Balika and preraks, work in partnership with governments, donors, and local communities.

About Ramon Magsaysay Award

• Instituted in 1958 to celebrate “greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia”.
• Named after Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, remembered for his integrity and people-centric leadership.
• From 1958–2008, the award was given in six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism & Creative Communication Arts, Peace & International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership.
• Since 2009, except for Emergent Leadership, it is presented without fixed categories.
• Winners receive a certificate and a medallion bearing the image of Ramon Magsaysay.
• The award ceremony takes place annually in Manila, Philippines on 31st August, Magsaysay’s birth anniversary.
• Till date, over 300 individuals and organisations across Asia have been recognised.

Other 2025 Awardees

• Shaahina Ali (Maldives): Environmental activist.
• Fr. Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva (Philippines): Human rights advocate known for opposing extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.