Indian non-profit organisation Educate Girls has been honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. The award recognises the organisation's dedication to bringing millions of girls back to education and breaking cycles of poverty and illiteracy. The announcement was made on August 31, with the formal ceremony held on Friday at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 2007, Educate Girls operates in over 30,000 villages across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. With the support of more than 55,000 community volunteers, the non-profit has enabled over two million girls to return to school and provided remedial learning support to 2.4 million children. A 25-member team from Educate Girls, including field coordinators, volunteers, and first-generation learners, attended the prestigious ceremony.
Dedication to Girls' Education and Future Goals
Founder Safeena Husain dedicated the award to the girls who demonstrate courage and resilience while balancing household duties and studies. She acknowledged parents, teachers, community members, and 55,000 Team Balika volunteers who support girls daily. CEO Gayatri Nair Lobo described the honour as a reminder of collective power when communities unite for girls' education. She outlined an ambitious goal called 10X10, aiming to reach 10 million learners by 2035. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation recognised Educate Girls for addressing cultural stereotyping through education, liberating young women from illiteracy, and empowering them with skills, courage, and agency to achieve their full potential. The award follows a rigorous global nomination and evaluation process.
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