By Dominique Chauvet-Staco
For over 30 years, Tostan has been empowering communities across West Africa to lead their own development. As a result, thousands of villages have voluntarily abandoned harmful practices through its unique, human rights-based approach. Rather than imposing solutions or passing judgement, Tostan works alongside communities, helping them harness their strengths and values to create a shared vision for the future and drive
sustainable change.
Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) provides participants with essential knowledge on human rights, health, and the impacts of harmful practices such as child marriage and FGC. These inclusive discussions encourage both women and men to reflect on traditions, examine their consequences, and explore alternative paths forward.
During a recent trip to The Gambia, Tostan Canada was invited to an interzonal meeting in Zerewaan Samba Sira, where representatives from 40 villages across the Central River Region—currently participating in the CEP—gathered to celebrate their progress. The atmosphere was electric and festive. Dressed in vibrant, colorful attire, participants welcomed us with radiant smiles, music, and lively dancing—a warm display of their culture and hospitality.
Village officials, spiritual leaders, and Tostan facilitators expressed heartfelt gratitude to the delegation. A Community Management Committee (CMC) coordinator—a dynamic woman—proudly presented the community’s “vision board”, which outlined significant achievements just six months into the CEP. These included zero cases of malaria – thanks to improved sanitation – ensuring all children have birth certificates and that both girls and boys were enrolled in school.
The vision board also highlighted their ongoing goals: access to a tractor, electricity, a health center, a vocational center for youth, clean water, and a marketplace. The CEP equips communities with the skills and knowledge needed to advocate for these priorities effectively.
The coordinator shared that the most profound transformation has been the empowerment of women.. Women, once forbidden to speak publicly, now confidently advocate for their rights and those of their communities. To demonstrate this shift, a group of young women—Urmi, Salimi, Satou Sané, and Seyna—stood to articulate key human rights principles. Using visual cue cards, they passionately defended rights such as freedom from discrimination, the right to education, and the elimination of violence against women, including FGC.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Governor of the Central River Region praised the sustainable social changes brought about by Tostan’s programs, particularly the voluntary abandonment of FGC and other harmful practices. He emphasized the power of collective dialogue and informed decision-making in fostering these positive outcomes.
Tostan’s process often culminates in public declarations, where entire villages pledge to end FGC and other harmful practices. These declarations reduce fears of social backlash, ensuring broad support for change. To date, more than eight thousands of communities have made these commitments, safeguarding the rights and well-being of women and girls for generations to come.
During the visit, I had the privilege of meeting extraordinary women whose lives have been profoundly transformed. They shared stories of breaking free from silence and subservience to becoming empowered leaders and advocates. These women are not only shaping the future of their communities—they are rewriting the narrative for generations of women and girls to come.
Their courage and resilience remind us that change is possible when communities armed with knowledge and opportunity, come together to demand better for themselves. This is Tostan’s work: empowering people to rise, speak out, and take charge of their destiny.
Together, we can amplify their voices and invest in a future where harmful practices are replaced by hope, dignity, and progress. By supporting Tostan, we can help fuel this extraordinary movement for change, one community at a time.