Tostan, an NGO established in 1991 and headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, works to empower rural and remote African communities to bring about positive social transformation and sustainable development through a holistic empowering education program. Our human rights-based program has reached more than five million people across eight African countries.
Women’s Empowerment
women have been selected for 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, nonformal education program puts rural communities in charge of their own futures. We support our partner communities to define and fulfill their own vision for well-being, 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 areas, with sustainability at its core
Sharing our Model
Tostan seeks to respond to ever-increasing demand for its model from a range of local and international partners by providing training and support. Through programs organized at the Tostan Training Center (TTC) in Thiès, Senegal, the organization offers training and support to traditional and religious leaders, local activists, government representatives, and NGO leaders.
News and Stories
In Senegal, Daga’s pledge to empower girls in her village
In southern Senegal, Daga Baldé has become a passionate advocate for girls' and women's education. Denied the opportunity to complete her own education when she was younger, Daga is now on a mission to ensure that children in her community can stay in school. Daga...
Spotlighting Women and Men, Change Drivers in Tostan’s community partners
In Tostan's community partners in Senegal, Gambia, Mali and Guinea Bissau, many women and men are at the forefront of advances in equal access to education, health or economic opportunities. To mark Women's History Month this year, we celebrate these women and men who...
Tcherno Seide: The Imam Leading the Movement to Abandon FGC in Guinea-Bissau
Tcherno Malam Seide is a young imam who serves as the child protection officer for the Sintchan Alanso community in the Bafatá Region of Guinea-Bissau. Malam attended the Cross-Border Meeting on Respect for Human Rights, which was held in Amdalie, The Gambia, on...
