Join us to celebrate our new CEO!

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Dear Friends,

As I prepare to close my chapter as CEO of Tostan, I am reminded of the African proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."?

Together, we have gone far—walking alongside communities as they turned visions of wellbeing into reality, step by step, and voice by voice.The past eight years have been transformative and inspiring for me, personally and professionally. I am not the same person: witnessing the strength of our partner communities, ?I will forever be inspired by women and youth rising as leaders, and carry with me the resilience that grows when dignity and shared purpose nurture each other.?

Passing the torch to Sobel Aziz NGOM , Tostan’s new CEO, is not only an honor, it is a privilege anchored in optimism. I feel immense joy and confidence for the future.?Sobel brings vision, innovation, and a deep belief in the power of community-led change. Supported by an extraordinary team and the powerful spirit of our partner communities, I know Tostan will soar to even greater heights.

As I step away from my role as CEO, I'm certainly not leaving the Tostan’s family and community. In 2025 and beyond, I will proudly stand alongside Tostan, championing its work, amplifying its impact, and sharing its story of resilience and hope.Thank you for the honor of traveling this path together.The journey continues, brighter than ever.

Thank you for the honor of traveling this path together.

The journey continues, brighter than ever.

??Join us to welcome our new CEO, Sobel Aziz Ngom ??

Tostan is pleased to announce the appointment of Sobel Aziz Ngom as its new Chief Executive Officer. He?will formally start as CEO on July 1, 2025. In the interim, Kadji Diop, Tostan’s Chief Finance and Operations Officer, will serve as Acting CEO from January to June 2025.Sobel Aziz Ngom brings a wealth of experience as an influential and innovative leader.

As the founder of Social Change Factory and co-founder of Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal, Sobel Aziz Ngom has championed youth empowerment and civic leadership across Africa.?? Another chapter in the Tostan history opens with him and we wish him tremendous success in his new endeavor.

Find out more in our press release

A testimony to sustainable social change?????

When we look back over the past year, there are so many things that make us proud and drive us forward. In December 2024, Fifty Three (53) communities In Guinea Bissau and Senegal, have publicly declared their commitment to abandoning female genital cutting , child/forced ?marriage and gender-based violence, among other harmful practices.

These public declarations are not only a legacy of the ongoing commitment of Tostan's partner communities, but above all a testimony that sustainable social change is consolidated over generations when it is driven by the communities themselves.

It's an opportunity for us to celebrate these achievements in promoting wellbeing and human rights, but also to pay tribute to women and men who have made dignity for all, their life's mission.?We can never thank UNFPA, UNICEF and all our partners enough. Without them, none of these achievements would be possible.

?? Watch the video ?????

Dialacoto 2024 public declaration

Knowledge has no borders???

Mutual learning and the sharing of acquired knowledge is crucial to development.For years, Tostan has been committed to promoting mutual learning and sharing with communities and development organizations.

Thanks to support from partners like Global Fund for Children or GIZ, we hosted orientation seminars on the Tostan approach in Zanzibar, and Cotonou, and more in-depth immersion seminars at the Tostan training center with partner organizations from Djibouti and Benin As part of the FRSD project implemented by GIZ and supported by Tostan.

Through these programs, we hope to broaden our mutual knowledge in favor of inclusive development to promote wellbeing at all levels.

Seminar d'orientation à Cotonou

??The true colors of a partnership??

In November, we shared unforgettable moments with our partners in Senegal and Gambia. In a spirit of co-creation for community wellbeing, we reflected together on new directions in our shared mission to promote community wellbeing.

Through sharing sessions and the exploration of our achievements and aspirations, we have strengthened our ties and developed new perspectives for the coming years.

It is with a heart full of gratitude and hope that we enter this new year determined to pursue our initiatives for an even greater impact in promoting human rights and dignity for all.

Standing for girls and women's rights???

We can’t end the newsletter without honoring the extraordinary courage of our community champions, especially women, in The Gambia, who, in July 2024, stood up to protect the dignity of women and girls.

Fueled by their vision of wellbeing and the knowledge gained through Tostan’s program, they stood united, mobilizing their communities to protect their rights and ensure a brighter future for women and girls in the Gambia.

Their journey is a testament to the power of collective commitment to social change and grassroots advocacy.

?? Watch their inspiring quest for dignity and wellbeing in our latest video ????

Standing for girls and women's rights

Ways to support our mission

We wish you a year of peace, health, prosperity and, above all, happiness and wellbeing.

From our family to yours!