News– The ‘Foundation to Educate Girls Globally’, an Indian non-profit focused on promoting girls’ education, has been selected as a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient.
About Ramon Magsasay Award
- It was established in 1957 to honour the legacy of Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines, remembered for his integrity and leadership.
- First presented in 1958, it is widely regarded as Asia’s highest honour and is often called the “Asian Nobel Prize.”
- The award is conferred every year on August 31, Magsaysay’s birth anniversary, in Manila, Philippines.
- Each awardee is honoured with a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize.
Objectives
- To celebrate greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia.
- To honour individuals and organisations for selfless service and contributions to the public good, irrespective of race, creed, gender, or nationality.
Award Categories
- 1958–2008: Given in six categories –
- Government Service
- Public Service
- Community Leadership
- Journalism, Literature & Creative Communication Arts
- Peace & International Understanding
- Emergent Leadership (introduced in 2000 with Ford Foundation support)
- Since 2009: Fixed categories discontinued, except Emergent Leadership. Selections are now based on overall merit of leadership and service.
Significance for India
- Several Indians have been awardees, including Verghese Kurien, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Kiran Bedi, Aruna Roy, and Bezwada Wilson.
- In 2025, Educate Girls became the first Indian organisation to win the award, marking a milestone in India’s contribution to social transformation.
