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
Press release: In Thiès, Tostan hosts an inaugural African gathering on Wellbeing
Thiès, November 22, 2023 – From the 29th of November to the 1st of December 2023, Tostan is hosting in Thiès, Senegal, a unique African gathering: The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès 2023.
“Tostan taught us with a lot of patience and love”: Sene’s story from Guinea Bissau
Despite notable efforts by the Guinea Bissau Government and development partners, communities continue to face a complex set of challenges in the health, education, economic, environmental sectors and in activities related to the exercise of their citizenship.
Webinar: How can partnerships elevate evidence-based approaches for community-led development?
On Thursday 5th October, 2023, Tostan hosted a globally reaching webinar in partnership to ask: How can partnerships elevate evidence-based approaches for community-led development?
