When Time magazine named Safeena Husain one of 16 Women of the Year 2026, she was standing outside at a Mumbai philanthropy conference, looking up at a sky so clear she could see the stars. “That almost never happens in Mumbai,” she told me later. “I felt so inspired.”
Making the impossible visible has been Safeena’s life’s work. For two decades, she has searched for the girls in India’s most forgotten villages, the ones with names like Maafi (forgive me for having a girl) and Missed Call (we asked God for a boy, but he missed the call).
Safeena is the founder of Educate Girls, a movement that aims to get every last girl in school. Her book, Every Last Girl, is a testament to her dedication and a call to action for readers. The book is full of heartbreaking stories, but it also offers hope and strategies to get girls into school.
Safeena spoke with intensity and clarity about her childhood reading, the process of writing her book, and the impact of winning the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award. She shared her personal story, including her rough childhood and how it shaped her work for girls’ education.
Safeena’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Her work has inspired a movement, and her book is a must-read for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of girls and women.
