Welcome To Tostan ~ Education about African women's health and human rights.

Tostan's mission is to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights. Since 1991 Tostan has brought its holistic 30-month education program to thousands of communities in nine African countries. We have been recognized by the international community for our groundbreaking work with villagers living in extreme poverty in remote areas. Tostan means "breakthrough" in the West African language of Wolof.

Tostan is the winner of the 2007

Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Community-led Successes:

Abandoning Female Genital Cutting
Ending Child/Forced Marriage
Promoting Grassroots Democracy
Protecting Maternal and Child Health
Preventing and treating Malaria
And taking action in many more areas

Featured Publication:

Tostan's Annual Report for 2006


+11.25.2007
Tostan Featured in Chicago Tribune: Tostan has been featured in the 11/25 edition of the Chicago Tribune. ... more >>
+9.6.2007
Tostan Featured in Op-Ed by UNICEF Chief: UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman praised Tostan’s community-based methods in a September 5 op-ed ... more >>
+8.13.2007
Tostan Wins Prestigious Hilton Prize: Tostan has received the 2007 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, a $1.5 million dollar award ... more >>