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
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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Tostan joins Melinda Gates’ Moment of Lift: Scaling Wellbeing for Women and Girls in Three Countries
For media enquiries, please contact SuzanneBowles@Tostan.org In her much awaited first ever book “The Moment of Lift,” Melinda Gates identifies Tostan Founder, Molly Melching, as a quiet hero and one of her teachers. She credits her with imparting the...
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FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
Today, our founder and creative director, Molly Melching will be live at the World Bank's Annual Meetings in a Global Voices interview to discuss empowering people through #education. Join us in watching her interview LIVE on our facebook page at 14:30 ET or 18:30 GMT.
#WBGmeetings
À l'occasion du Grand Magal de Touba qui commémore le départ en exil de Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacke, aussi appelé Serigne Touba, Tostan souhaite un très bon pélérinage à tous les fidèles.
#GrandMagalTouba
“Everyone has the right to be free from all forms of discrimination, and everyone has a responsibility also not to discriminate. Everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence; but also, we have a responsibility not to be violent.”
In this must-listen conversation on the podcast The Business of Giving, our founder, Molly Melching, goes back to the early beginnings of her journey to promoting Human Rights as well as her collaboration with Professor Cheikh Anta Diop and the Wolof origins of the name “Tostan”. She also shares insightful thoughts and experiences on how community-led shifts in social norms change the prevalence of harmful practices in West Africa.
denver-frederick.com/2019/10/01/molly-melching-founder-of-tostan-joins-denver-frederick/
Watch 2019 Human Rights Defenders Forum Livestream with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Building Solidarity Toward Equality For All
The first public session on the final day of the 2019 Human Rights Defenders Forum will include: - Welcome by Ambassador Mary Ann Peters - Music - Remarks by...Today marks the end of the Carter Center’s 12th Forum on Defending Human Rights. This yearly event brought together activists, peacemakers, and community leaders from 28 countries around the topic “Building Solidarity toward Equality for All.” Our program officer, Godfrey Okumu, represented Tostan in the panel for the session All Human Rights for All, and thus shared Tostan's thought and experience on reinforcing civil, economic, political and social rights as a crucial step to achieve equality.
#DefendHumanRights
#DignityforAll
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