News & Stories from the Field
Dieynaba Kane, former cutter turned advocate for abandonment of FGC
Dieynaba Kane is a vocal advocate for the abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC), a practice whose painful consequences she knows better than most, having undergone it herself and having, by her own count, performed it on at least 100 girls over a period of...
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The human rights movement is rising in Mali: 141 communities publicly declare abandonment of harmful practices in Koulikoro
On 29 November 2018, representatives of 141 communities gathered in Koulikoro, Mali, to publicly declare their decision to abandon the age-old practices of female genital cutting (FGC) and child marriage. The ceremony was presided over by the Minister for the...
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30 communities in southern Senegal declare abandonment of female genital cutting and child marriage, following the Tostan program
A real breakthrough in a conservative region 30 communities in the commune of Linkering, in the Kolda region of southern Senegal, came together on Sunday, November 25, 2018, to publicly declare abandonment of harmful traditional practices, and show their commitment to...
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Tostan Sweden represented at the Swedish Forum for Human Rights
At this year’s edition of the Swedish Forum for Human Rights - the largest forum for human rights in Scandinavia - eight volunteers from Tostan Sweden pitched in to represent Tostan. One of the volunteers, Jonatan Arblom Sundblad, here reports on the successes of the...
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162 communities join the movement for abandonment of FGC and child marriage in Senegal
On Sunday 11 November 2018, a historic event was held in Goumbayel, in the region of Tambacounda, Senegal. 162 communities from the Bala, Koulor and Diankémakha districts - made up of Mandé, Pulaar, Soninké and Wolof ethnic groups - came together to publicly declare...
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Mayor Khalidou Sy honored with Local Leadership Excellence Award in Senegal
Tostan former National Coordinator for Senegal and member of our staff for 25 years, Khalidou Sy, was honored on Friday November 9, 2018, as one of the best mayors in Senegal at the Local Leadership Excellence Award Ceremony. He was selected out of 557 Local District...
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Choosing a World Free from Female Genital Cutting: Aissata’s True Story
This is the true story of Aissata, who was was cut when she was seven years old. Like many girls and women all over the world, she experienced the often devastating consequences of female genital cutting (FGC). Years after undergoing the practice, Aissata's community...
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Women Leaders on the Rise in The Gambia
A cycle of empowerment and leadership is rising in West Africa - and it is led by women. Read on to learn more about the inspiring women leading with dignity in The Gambia, thanks to the confidence they gained through Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program. In 2017,...
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On the ‘CUSP’ of scale: Tostan proud to participate in the ‘Community for Understanding Scale Up’
Tostan participates in the Community for Understanding Scale Up (CUSP), a global coalition of NGOs known for their impact in social norms change, violence prevention and women's empowerment. Other coalition members include: the Salamander Trust; Puntos de Encuentro;...
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Annual Report 2017
Our Annual Report for 2017 is now available online, in English. In the report, we are delighted to share with you some highlights of the amazing achievements made by our partner communities in 2017, through the Community Empowerment Program and adapted programs. You...
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Sleeping Soundly in Support of Tostan
Diane Gillespie is donating all proceeds from her latest book Stories for Getting Back to Sleep to Tostan. As a long-standing Global Mobilizer, she is especially moved by the emerging women leaders in Tostan communities and by their commitment to a human rights...
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Stories of success from the Prison Project, 2018
Living conditions in Senegal’s state prisons are often very difficult: Access to water, toilets and medical services is limited, whilst living and recreation spaces are inadequate. Organized rehabilitation activities for prisoners are rare, increasing the likelihood...
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Taking Tostan from Senegal to the States — Dame Guèye’s trip to Massachusetts, USA
During his 24 year career at Tostan, Dame Guèye has grown from being a field-based Facilitator in Senegal, to being recently appointed Senior Programme Manager at Tostan International, Dakar. Facing inevitable challenges along the way, Dame has also benefited from...
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Igniting a Movement of Peace from the Grassroots: Tostan and Partners launch Project USAID UNAAM KAYRAAY
On 12th May 2018, representatives from USAID, Partners Global, Tostan, Plateforme des Femmes pour la Paix en Casamance (PFPC), Partners West Africa and regional officials proudly launched the project ‘USAID UNAAM KAYRAAY’, or ‘Engaging Civil Society for Peace in the...
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An Integrated Approach Leads to Healthier, Empowered Mothers
On International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Tostan Shares What Works Over the past few years, Tostan has enabled hundreds of women suffering from fistula to receive medical treatment at UNFPA fistula repair camps by covering some of the essential expenses involved...
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Sparking Change in North-East Senegal: 50 Communities Declare Abandonment of Harmful Practices in Diongto
On Sunday 13th May 2018 in Diongto, Senegal, 50 villages from the Matam region held a public ceremony to declare the abandonment of the traditional practices of Female Genital Cutting (FGC), Child Marriage and Forced Marriage. This moment marked a powerful social...
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Tostan celebrates a 4-star Charity Navigator rating for the third year in a row
For the third consecutive year, Tostan has earned a 4-star rating with Charity Navigator, the leading nonprofit evaluator in America. This is the highest rating possible! Attaining a 4-star rating indicates that Tostan adheres to sector best practices and executes its...
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Q&A with Tostan’s new CEO, Elena Bonometti
What is your background? I am an Italian national. I left Italy when I was 22 to get my Master's from the Science Po graduate school in Paris. I had always been interested in the world outside of Italy and I seized any possible opportunity to meet people from...
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Tostan officially signs on for the Sustainable Development Goals
Tostan has signaled its support of the Sustainable Development Goals through our commitment to Every Woman Every Child, the UN's global movement to mobilize governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society in pursuit of the health of all...
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“We won’t stop here.” – International Women’s Day in solidarity with prison detainees
Relaxed discussion, popular songs blasting from speakers, a cheerful atmosphere in a sea of matching outfits: my first impressions of the place I had just entered did not align with the perceptions I held about prisons. It was International Women’s Day, at La Maison...
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