Did you read our 2023 impact report?

In 2023 we were able to achieve great things with your support and partnership. Among those achievements, our Community Empowerment Program (CEP) which has reached nearly 23,000 adults and young people, primarily girls and women, who gained essential knowledge in human rights, health, the environment, literacy, and numeracy.

These accomplishments motivate us to keep expanding upon the groundwork we have already established as we go forward. Our dedication to partnership-driven development will serve as a roadmap for our future work as we collaborate with communities to bring about long-lasting, constructive change. Download the report? or read directly on our website

Let’s keep Learning and Sharing for positive change

In August and September, the Tostan Training Center hosted dynamic sessions of mutual learning and sharing with diverse groups. A 10-day seminar, organized in partnership with the European Union Delegation in Djibouti, brought together civil society leaders and parliamentarians to explore Tostan’s human rights-based approach. Participants gained practical tools to drive social change and support Djiboutian communities in abandoning harmful practices including female genital cutting and Child/Forced marriage.

Prior to this, we welcomed partners from the Global Fund for Children and One Village Partners for an immersive Advanced Seminar, building on their initial 10-day experience. This seminar deepened their understanding of the Tostan model, empowering them to better integrate these transformative practices into their networks. At Tostan, we deeply value these shared learning moments, as they embody our commitment to an educational model rooted in African values and collective well-being. Watch the video on GFC and One Village Partners’ inspiring experience. More about our training offers

Overcoming resistance through storytelling

Our latest community call took place on September 19 and featured an inspiring learning session facilitated by? Tostan’s Technical Program Adviser, Godfrey Ochieng Okumu. This interactive learning session delved into? the potent relationship between resistance and storytelling in community-led development and peacebuilding.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the call.

Missed it? Don't worry, watch the replay now! ??

Mariatu Cande : Championing Women's Leadership and Human Rights in Guinea Bissau

Mariatu Cande, a leader from Carauasse in Guinea-Bissau, has become a strong advocate for? Human rights and women leadership. As Coordinator of her village's Community Management

Committee, she helped ensure that her community embraced gender equality, including the abandonment of harmful practices like female genital cutting and child marriage. Mariatu’s efforts, supported by Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program and the UNFPA, extend to neighboring communities, where she raises awareness on sexual and reproductive health and women’s rights, inspiring collective action for lasting change.

Read Full Story :

50 Years Together Webinar Series

Join us on October 30th, 2024, for the first webinar in Tostan’s "50 Years Together" series, a major highlight of our organization-wide campaign celebrating to honor Tostan’s incredible journey in partnership with communities and celebrate the next generations of leaders . This inaugural session, titled "Locally Led, Globally Supported: Fueling Community Movements for Sustainable Social Change," will explore the origins of Tostan and the pivotal role of community-driven approaches in sustainable development.

Learn more about the 50 Years Together Campaign

On the way to Youth Friendly Standards

Tostan has begun the labeling process to be recognized as a “youth-friendly” organization. The Youth Friendly Standards is a pilot initiative led by The Consortium Jeunesse Senegal, a key partner for Tostan in collaboration with other organizations. These standards promote practices that value youth as essential contributors to governance, programs, and decision-making processes, ensuring they have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Only 5 days to go until the Hearth Summit Thiès kicks off!

The Tostan training center will be buzzing with cultural events, lively discussions, and artistic workshops for three days during the Hearth Summit Thies. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic sessions and creative workshops across a range of topics including mental health, ecological belonging, youth engagement, donor learning agendas, peace building and reconciliation, and paradigm shifts in funding for wellbeing initiatives.

This unique event for wellbeing and social transformation in Africa is anticipated to draw over 200? attendees. Read the Press release