Educate Girls Celebrates 18th Foundation Day; Felicitates High-Scoring Learners and Honours Community Volunteers

Mumbai, December 5, 2025: Educate Girls, the first Indian organisation to receive the prestigious 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award, today, marked its 18th Foundation Day, coinciding with International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development - by honouring 55,000 Team Balika volunteers and learners who scored 75%+ in their 10th-grade board exams.

At the event, Ranjeet Singh Deol, Principal Secretary, School Education and Sports Department, Government of Maharashtra, praised Educate Girls’ sustained impact, saying, “This is not an eye-wash — this is targeted work to address a deep-rooted mindset. Bringing over 20 lakh girls back to education is no small feat. By starting in the most challenging geographies, Educate Girls has built strong field experience. When you focus on the most marginalised girls, the gaps become visible — and solvable.”

He added, “Even in progressive states like Maharashtra, pockets of vulnerability remain. Your model on out-of-school girls will strengthen our policies and help us act faster using your AI-driven insights.”

Applauding the young women who cleared their open school Class 10 exams with distinction, he said, “These women motivate thousands more. Every woman who has passed her Class 10 through open school becomes a role model in her community. The future of Bharat depends on girls staying in school — and with government partnership, this impact can grow even stronger.”

At a special gathering in Mumbai, adolescent girls and young women from three states were felicitated for scoring 75% and above in their State Open School Class 10 examinations. These learners are part of Educate Girls’ second-chance education programme, Pragati, which supports adolescent girls and young women (15–29) who are overage, academically set back, or permanently at risk of never returning to formal education. Pragati enables them to resume their education, build academic and life skills, and develop agency to transform their futures.

Many of these learners have overcome restrictive gender norms, household responsibilities, and years away from school. Their determination has made them role models in their communities. For several, the celebration also marked their first flight as they travelled to Mumbai.

As Educate Girls’ Foundation Day coincides with International Volunteer Day, the event also honoured the organisation’s 55,000 Team Balika volunteers. These community champions have been critical in identifying out-of-school girls, facilitating their enrolment, and helping families overcome social barriers to girls’ education.

Founder Safeena Husain and CEO Gayatri Nair Lobo felicitated the learners and volunteers and engaged with partners who have supported the organisation’s journey.

Addressing the gathering, Safeena Husain, Founder, Educate Girls, celebrated 18 years of the organisation and said, “For 18 years, our journey has been powered by the resilience and commitment of thousands — our Team Balika volunteers, our Preraks who helped girls and young women rediscover dreams they had long forgotten, and our teams across every geography we serve. Our partners in government, our communities, and our supporters have fueled this mission at every step. With the Ramon Magsaysay Award energising our path forward, we enter the new year with renewed purpose and a bold ambition: to reach 10 million learners by 2035.”

Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO, Educate Girls, said, “This year has reminded us of the extraordinary power of collective action. Working hand-in-hand with our partner states, we have brought lakhs of girls back to education — and the addition of eight new states to our mission strengthens our resolve even further. Educate Girls has always been a people-powered movement, and with our collaboration with state open schools, we are creating real pathways for girls to return to education and shape their own futures.”

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion with young women from far-off villages, dedicated Team Balika volunteers who engage families door-to-door to support girls’ schooling, and Preraks who encourage young women to return to education after extended breaks. Attendees also experienced an interactive showcase of Educate Girls’ supplementary remedial learning materials, demonstrating the innovative tools and methods that help learners re-enter the education system and thrive.