The Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2023

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, celebrates greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. The Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2023 are:

Korvi Rakshand (Bangladesh)

A Bangladeshi who champions inclusive quality education and promotes a culture of active participation amongst his country's youths.

Korvi Rakshand to receive the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, the board of trustees recognizes his determined spirit and quiet courage in turning away from a secure life to a more demanding one of working for the underprivileged; his strong, visionary leadership in democratizing education and inspiring thousands of young people to heed the call of social transformation, and thus demonstrating how the young can be not just the bearers of the promise of the nation, but its realization.

Dr. Ravi Kannan R(India)

An Indian surgical oncologist who has revolutionized cancer treatment in Assam through people-centered and pro-poor programs.

Ravi Kannan R. to receive the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his devotion to his profession’s highest ideals of public service, his combination of skill, commitment, and compassion in pushing the boundaries of people-centered, pro-poor health care and cancer care, and for having built, without expectation of reward, a beacon of hope for millions in the Indian state of Assam, thus setting a shining example for all.

Miriam Coronel Ferrer(Philippine)

A Filipino peace negotiator who championed inclusivity and women's participation in peace-building.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer to receive the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes her deep, unwavering belief in the transformative power of non-violent strategies in peacebuilding, her cool intelligence and courage in surmounting difficulties to convey the truth that it is through inclusion rather than division that peace can be won and sustained, and her unstinting devotion to the agenda of harnessing the power of women in creating a just and peaceful world.

Eugenio Lemos(Timor-Leste)

A Timorese who safeguards the environment and indigenous culture of Timor-Leste, paving the way for a sustainable and independent food supply.

Eugenio Lemos to receive the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his indomitable spirit in uplifting the lives of local communities, his vision and passion in integrating local and indigenous cultures in his advocacy for the care of the environment and the well-being of people; and for being truly a man of and for his people, and thus for the world as well.