Safeena Husain of Educate Girls in TIME Women of the Year list

Joining 16 global honourees on TIME’s Women of the Year 2026 list is Safeena Husain, Founder of the non-profit Educate Girls.

The list recognises global changemakers working towards a more equitable world, according to a press statement. It honours “leaders who we believe are addressing the most pressing issues confronting women and girls in 2026.” 

Husain stands among 16 global honourees this year—a distinguished list that includes actor Teyana Taylor, whose powerful performance in One Battle After Another captivated Hollywood; Olympic gold medallist and world record-holder Sydney McLaughlin, who continues to redefine excellence in track and field; acclaimed actor-producer Lucy Liu; and the iconic Shirley Ralph Lee, celebrated across television, film, and theatre.

As a TIME Women of the Year honouree, Husain’s recognition places her work on a global stage—amplifying her mission to close the gender gap in education and expand access for girls who are too often left behind.

Last year, Educate Girls was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, becoming the first Indian NGO to win the prize.

Husain founded Educate Girls in 2007 to tackle the persistent challenge of out-of-school girls across India’s rural, remote, and tribal communities, where poverty, gender bias, and lack of access continue to keep girls away from classrooms.

The initiative that began in a handful of villages in Rajasthan has grown into one of India’s largest community-driven efforts to support girls’ education, impacting over 30,000 villages across 12 states. 

In the TIME interview, Husain said, “From day one till today, it is focused on the out-of-school girl, because that’s my lived experience. That’s what I know, [what it] feels like to be left behind.”

Recently, Educate Girls surpassed its TED Audacious Project goal and supported over two million out-of-school girls in returning to education. Husain also published a book, Every Last Girl: A Journey to Educate India’s Forgotten Daughters, that showcases her personal journey and offers a ground-level account of the barriers that keep millions out of school and the solutions helping them return to school.

Reflecting on the recognition, Husain said, “I am honoured and humbled to be named alongside such trailblazing leaders. This recognition brings much-needed attention to India’s grassroots movement for girls’ education and spotlights our girls and their grit, resilience, and determination to shape their futures. It strengthens our resolve to reach ten million more by 2035 and ensure every last girl has voice, choice, and agency.”