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
Walk On My Own: A film about how Tostan sparks profound, positive changes for women and girls premieres during the UN Commission on the Status of Women
On screen, a 13-year-old girl is singing and dancing, her eyes bright with laughter. Microphone clipped to the back of her dress, she picks up her video camera and moves through her village to the next location for the film she is making. In the audience, now...
read more
Ndeye Fatou’s Story: Walk On My Own
In Walk On My Own, 13-year-old Ndeye Fatou Fall tells about the positive social transformations sparked by her community in Senegal for the health and wellbeing of girls and women. The public premiere took place on March 13, 2019, in New York City, coinciding with...
read more
Religious Leaders at the Forefront of Social Transformation
Since 1991, Tostan has engaged local religious leaders in supporting communities’ efforts to end violence against girls and women and create a new vision for wellbeing. These partnerships are one of many strategies in a deep and growing movement leading to positive...
read moreJoin our Global Network
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
Last week in NYC, over 200 people joined us and BYkids for the world premiere of Walk On My Own, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Missed it? Get the PBS broadcast list here and a note from the Producers, Mark Wheeler and Lisa Wheeler on their experience in visionary partnership. #dignityforall #TostanIgnite
Reports in from our NYC film screening! 🎥 👯 And details on where/when you can watch at home
mailchi.mp
“In Africa today, more than 50% of the population is under 25. This is a powerhouse that we need to capitalize on. If we can reach this community of people, the future is bright - anything is possib...ATTN: Yankees who love Tostan. We are the featured NGO at an EPIC World Music Collider tomorrow night at The Williamsburg Grange, just fifteen minutes up the road from downtown Northampton. Shake to Noura Mint Seymali's molten psychadelic Saharan funk from Mauritania, among others. Tostan's Suzanne Bowles will be on site with Gadjigo Samba of Mount Holyoke College in a series collaboration to lift up the stories of effective social movements in Africa and beyond. Get ready to see Gadjigo's SEMBENE! in Northampton in May... See you tomorrow night! ****Shake shake shake****
"When affordable and safe water supply exists in a community... it opens avenues for greater income generation and a better quality of life, including better health and nutrition."
Did you know? Men, women and children in West Africa are gaining new knowledge about the importance of clean water for health and hygiene through our classes. They share this information with neighbors to encourage positive practices such as handwashing, and often start regular clean-up days to pick up waste, construct latrines and well covers, and clear stagnant water.
In 2018, partner communities in The Gambia organized 600 community clean-up days, creating a clean and healthy living space for 1000s!
#WorldWaterDay #WaterForAll #DignityForAll #RightToWater #SDG6 UN-Water
Opinion: Fixing water fixes gender parity
devex.com
In recognition of World Water Day, two WASH experts examine how looking at water through the gender lens can help address broader parity issues.Don't miss out on news from Tostan! 📣📖🧐
Sign up to our email newsletter to receive stories from the field, organizational updates and opportunities to engage in the movement, directly to your inbox: bit.ly/Tostannewsletter
Newsletters | Tostan International
tostan.org
Check out Tostan’s Newsletters dating all the way back to 2011.Today we celebrate former Tostan Training Center participant Ruth Jepchumba, Founder and Managing Director of Elgeyo Marakwet Girls Foundation, a Kenyan grassroots organization championing girls' and women's rights.
Ruth comes from a region of Kenya where most people believe that girls should undergo female genital cutting and not go to school. At age 11 she ran away from home to avoid being cut, and was ostracized by her family and the larger community. She has since made peace with her community and now works to unite families and communities to abandon FGC together for the wellbeing of all.
Since participating in the Tostan training in December 2018, Ruth has integrated human rights education and new participatory methodologies into the Foundation's activities. For her work, she was celebrated in 2018 as “End FGM Female Champion of the Year” and a Women Deliver Young Leader. She is a shining example of the growing movement of change-makers who participate in Tostan trainings. 🌟
Find out more at: www.tostan.org/programs/tostan-training-center/
#throwbackthursday #TTC #dignityforall
JOIN US ON TWITTER
