Over the years, Tostan has received requests from individuals, community activists, organizations, philanthropists, and government officials to share its proven model for community-led development. In 2000, we first launched the Tostan Training Center (TTC) in Thies, Senegal and began creating programs for training and sharing learning. In 2015, Tostan launched a revised and expanded program to support other partners and organizations to learn and apply its community, human rights-based approach and principles through a unique 10-day training course that uses a participatory, learner-centered approach. Our training serves individuals and groups who share a commitment to human dignity, transformative learning, holistic empowerment, and collective action. To date, Tostan has welcomed more than 900 participants from 50 countries across four continents to the participatory seminars at the TTC.
Next Sessions (2024)
English sessions:
June 25 – July 4
August 6 – 15
December 3-12
French sessions:
May 14 – 23
September 3-12
Or write to Birima Fall (birimafall@tostan.org) if you have any questions or inquiries. You can also reach the TTC at +221 77 198 47 95.
As a participant in the course you will
- Be introduced to an overview of Tostan’s unique model
- Connect Tostan practices to relevant development theories, including social norm theory
- Experience key Tostan classes and visit at least two villages that have participated in the Tostan Community Empowerment Program (CEP)
- Explore monitoring & evaluation practices for a holistic, integrated program
- Interact and learn from other development activists
Course title
“Promoting Community Well-being”
Time
10 full days
(arrive the day before,
depart the day after)
Cost
US $3,500
(including course materials, room + board, two field visits, day-off excursion to Gorée Island, transfer to/from Dakar airport)*
Course Content
The Tostan course runs for 10 full days and includes: participatory activities, group work, presentations and discussions on theoretical and practical content, village visits for exchanges with community leaders.
Tostan Program Content
- Introduction to the Tostan Community Empowerment Program (CEP)
- Individual sessions from the CEP curriculum
Theories
- Tostan’s Theory of Change
- The Theory of Wellbeing
- Understanding Social Norms
- The Capacity to Aspire
Methodology
- Participatory activities
- African cultural methods of learning: song, dance, theater, poetry
Organizational Practices
- Monitoring & evaluation
- Communication strategies that take into account an understanding of social norms
Interaction with Community Participants
- Two field visits to Tostan partner communities
- Roundtable with representativews of Community Management Committees (CMC)
- Q&A with Social Mobilization Agents
Profile of Course Participants
We welcome a maximum of 22 participants, including:
- Individuals occupying a leadership position at organizational or programmatic level at a NGO (non-governmental organization)
- Trainers/teachers/influential leaders who are engaged in social and international development projects
- Officials from government agencies in charge of local development programs
- Representatives from foundations or multilateral organizations which invest in community development.
We encourage two people per organization to apply, but we ask that you coordinate within your organization to ensure that the two best placed individuals submit an application.
For More Information
If you have additional questions about the training, or if you are interested in renting a space at the Tostan Training Center (as a development organization or group) please contact us at training@tostan.org.
