Tostan

Description

Tostan is a non-governmental organization that runs community-led education and human rights programs across West Africa. It was founded in 1991 by Molly Melching and is headquartered in Senegal, with its roots in her work there since 1974. Its name means breakthrough in the Wolof language.

Its main program, the Community Empowerment Program, is a non-formal, three-year curriculum taught in local languages using dialogue, theatre, storytelling and dance rather than classroom teaching. It covers human rights, democracy, health and hygiene, literacy and small enterprise skills, and it helps communities set up their own management committees to carry projects forward. The model has been delivered in 22 languages across eight African countries.

Tostan is best known for its role in ending female genital cutting and child marriage, an approach built on community dialogue and public declarations that has led thousands of communities across Africa to abandon the practices. It also runs programs on prison reintegration, youth empowerment, peace and security, early childhood development, and training rural women as solar engineers. A training center in Senegal shares its methods with other organizations, activists and government officials from across Africa and beyond.

The organization also works on governance, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability, and it has partnered with bodies such as UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It is supported by sister organizations in Canada, Denmark, Germany and Sweden that raise funds and awareness for its work in Africa.