Since we began, our human rights-based education program has reached more than five million people across eight African countries.
Women’s Empowerment
women have been selected into leadership positions in their communities, with many running for public office
Health
people live in communities that publicly declared their intention to end female genital cutting
Child Marriage
communities have publicly declared that their daughters will not marry before the age of 18
The Tostan Model
Our three-year, non-formal education program puts rural communities in charge of their own futures. We support our partner communities to define and fulfil their own vision for wellbeing, allowing them to create positive and lasting social transformation. Our approach is:
HUMAN RIGHTS BASED
Knowledge of human rights and responsibilities forms the foundation for learning
RESPECTFUL & INCLUSIVE
Information is shared in a non-judgmental and participatory way, using local languages
HOLISTIC & SUSTAINABLE
The program has impact across multiple issues, with sustainability at its core
Ndéye Fatou’s Story: Walk On My Own
In Walk On My Own, 13-year-old Ndeye Fatou Fall tells the story of her community in Senegal and the social transformation they have sparked to end harmful practices and ensure education, self-determination and wellbeing for girls and women.
News and Stories
Community comes together to support young Hawa’s education
Hawa is a 14-year-old girl from Sare Mamudou, one of the 30 communities undergoing Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) in the Gambia. She is an exemplary student who ranked first of her 6th grade class in early 2019. Hawa’s father passed away when she was in...
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Empowered CMC leads the way to sustainable health for women and children in Song Kunda!
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This African proverb is ever so fitting to Song Kunda, a remote village located in the Upper River Region, Kantora District, and one of the first villages in the Gambia to participate in...
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Tostan awarded 4-star rating by Charity Navigator in 2019
Tostan has attained a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. This is the highest possible rating from the leading nonprofit evaluator in America. It indicates that...
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Lets unite forces and call for urgent action to accelerate ending of #FGM/C by 2030.
Amref Health Africa in Kenya Amref International University Amref Medical Centre Tostan @OrchidProject
#EndFGM/C #Youth4Change
Every 11 seconds, a girl undergoes female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) somewhere in the world. FGM/C is a human rights violation that cannot continue. Today, alongside activists, civil society, donors, survivors, and grassroots representatives, we are launching a united Global Call to Action 🌍🌎🌏 to end the practice.
Sign up now and support a growing global movement, so that no girl ♀ has to live with the impacts of FGM/C.
bit.ly/GlobalEndFGMC
Together we can #endFGM #endFGC #endFGMC #endVAWG #ICPD25 #NairobiSummit
Tostan Equality Now Orchid Project @TheGirlGeneration Threads For Wellbeing Sahiyo @USEndFGMNetwork @endfgmeuropeannetwork @Thereisnolimit
Each day, around 33 000 girls are forced into marriage and more than 4 million women are at risk of FGC each year... This 25th anniversary of the ICPD summit, in Nairobi, is a recall and an urge to achieve the goal to set sexual and reproductive health a universal and accessible right, as it is also a key pathway to ensuring sustainable development. Join the movement. Together we can #EndFGC #ICPD25 #NairobiSummit
How much can change in just one generation? We are delighted and proud to see Ndeye Fatou Fall's documentary about the changes in her community after Tostan, mentored by Elizabeth Hummer in partnership with BYkids, taking the country by storm. This most recent screening in Chicago really got people thinking and talking! Consider sharing the experience with your own friends and family with the Circle of Change, you can sign up with Tostan. www.tostan.org/walk-on-my-own/
So proud of Founder and Creative Director Molly Melching who continues to bring new energy to this great mission with home-run interviews like this one at the The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Thank you Molly for your tireless commitment to #dignityforall and potential you are bringing to Tostan's next partnership in 1,340 new communities in 2020. #regenerationrise
lnkd.in/eJnQAkW
Nonprofit Works to Empower Women Throughout West Africa (Podcast)
Tostan is working to change social norms around issues of sustainable development, human rights, genital cutting, and child marriage.JOIN US ON TWITTER
