(New Delhi): Educate Girls, founded by Safeena Husain, has become the first Indian non-profit to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The organisation works in rural India to bring girls from disadvantaged communities into classrooms.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation recognised Educate Girls for its impact in tackling gender injustice in education. The foundation noted that the group’s work in remote villages has created long-term benefits for families and communities.
Safeena Husain began Educate Girls in 2007 with the aim of improving enrollment and learning outcomes for girls. Over the years, the group has partnered with governments and local volunteers to identify out-of-school girls and ensure they continue their studies. According to the organisation, their efforts have already reached millions of children across India.
Reacting to the announcement, Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO of Educate Girls, called the award a “historic moment” and dedicated it to the field staff, volunteers, donors, and most importantly, to the girls who persist in pursuing education. She also congratulated co-winners Shaahina Ali of Maldives and Fr. Flaviano Villanueva of the Philippines.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award, often described as Asia’s Nobel Prize, has been presented since 1958 to individuals and organisations demonstrating transformative leadership.
