Stories
By sharing regular stories and updates, everyone who is involved with Tostan Canada can remain connected.
Read about the experiences of our generous supporters, our dedicated team members, and most importantly, the communities who are making their vision for the future come alive.
Featured Posts
Finding Purpose Through Tostan
By Sophie Champagne Donor and Tostan Canada Board member since 2023 After three decades in marketing, I began searching for a meaningful way to give back. I had volunteered on fundraising committees before, but I was craving something deeper and something that would...
Passing the Torch: How One Family’s Philanthropy Grew With Tostan
By Judy McFarlane I first learned about Tostan several years ago when I met Gail Kaneb and Kelly Baxter. They told me about Molly Melching and what she had accomplished in Senegal and The Gambia. I bought Molly’s book, However Long the Night, and began to understand...
Why We Give: A Family’s Intergenerational Journey with Tostan Canada
By Gail Kaneb and Alexandra Kaneb Board Members, Tostan Canada In our family, giving back is a tradition. For decades, we’ve worked to make a difference—first in our own community, and later through our family foundation. But it wasn’t until we met Tostan that we...
Faly’s Journey Home: Youth Leading Change in Guinea-Bissau
After years of hardship and attempts to migrate, Faly returned to his village in Guinea-Bissau—and found a new path forward. With support from Tostan’s education program, he’s now building a better future for himself and creating opportunities for others. Faly is one...
Donor Stories: Kelsey McFarlane
Author: Kelsey McFarlane Date: November 30, 2024 I was fortunate enough to represent my family and travel with Tostan Canada to Senegal and The Gambia this past November. This was my first time in Africa, and I thought Tostan did an outstanding job of showing us both...
Donor Testimonials: The Pathy Family Foundation
A Partnership for Change: Pathy Family Foundation’s Enduring Support for Tostan “The Pathy Family Foundation has been a proud supporter of Tostan Canada for 15 years for two distinct and equally important reasons: First, the quality and evolution of their social...
Donor story: My Participation in the “Hearth Summit” in Thiès
By Bineta Ba Director, Partnerships and International Development Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation, Quebec, Canada It was a great pleasure to accept Tostan's invitation to attend the "Hearth Summit," an event held from October 7 to 9, 2024, in Thiès (Senegal),...
Empowering Communities to Abandon Harmful Practices
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....
The Gatekeepers of Change: Chatting with Soudiane’s Community Management Committee
Written by: Dominique Chauvet-Staco At the core of Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) is the Community Management Committee (CMC)—a democratically elected group of 19 members, predominantly women, who take the reins of leadership to guide and sustain the...
Celebrating changemaker, Mame Diarra Nah Traoré
Discover the inspiring journey of Mame Diarra Nah Traoré in this powerful video showcasing Tostan's Community Empowerment Program (CEP) in Mali. Watch as Mame, starting as a member of the Community Management Committee, rises to become a municipal councilor,...