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
Could Indigenous Wisdom Hold the Key to the Climate Crisis?
As COP29 concludes in Baku with developed nations pledging at least $300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035, a crucial question arises: who will truly benefit from these funds? Indigenous communities—the true guardians of our ecosystems—are still...
Fighting Malaria in Guinea-Bissau: How Empowered Communities Are Saving Lives
In the heart of Guinea-Bissau’s Bafata region, a powerful exmple of community-driven change is transforming lives. Thanks to leaders like Maimuna Djau and the Community Management Committee (CMC) of Tabato, a recent malaria vaccination campaign highlights how human...
African Youth Wellbeing Challenges at the Forefront of the Hearth Summit Thiès
Thiès, September 30, 2024 – From October 7 to 9, 2024, Tostan is hosting the second edition of the Hearth Summit Thiès (Senegal), a wellbeing summit for social change. This African gathering brings together experts, community leaders, youth, artists, development...
