Molly Melching's Tostan Empowers African Women on Their Terms

Molly Melching, Oumy Sanokho, Alice Werbel Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book “Half the Sky” introduces us to Molly Melching, the founder and executive director of the nongovernmental organization Tostan, which works to teach human rights and democracy and has helped more than 4,000 communities in Africa end the traditional cutting of girls.

It seems that Tostan succeeds where other NGOs, foundations and government-sponsored groups fail. Her methodology is a key reason.

In the case of FGC (Female Genital Cutting) since 1997, 3,791 communities in Senegal, 364 in Guinea, 23 in Burkina Faso and 24 in The Gambia have joined the original women from the Sengalese village of Malicounda Bambara to end the FGC practices in their village. Almost half of the 5,000 villages have abandoned the practice of FGC and along with child/forced marriages since 1997.

Read how the villagers make their own decisions about changing the practices of their villages.

Tostan is involved in a range of community projects, dedicated to an overall improvement in the quality of life for the community. On this link we read about Mariam Tamboura of Katote, Senegal, an active member of her Community Management Council.

mariam Tamboura of Katote, SenegalCurrently, Mariam Tamboura is focused on training to be a solar electrical engineer, joining a group of 16 other African women being trained in India.

When asked how the new solar project will change the village, Mariam replies that “this is a women’s project!” Everyone in the village will benefit from electricity but I hope the role of women wil improve.” Mariam basks in the recognition that even as an older woman, she is valued and is receiving training.

Key to the success of Molly Melching’s Tostan is listening to the villagers, respecting their customs and working to educate them on alternative ways and reasons to amend centuries-old customs. It’s when an entire village (including the men) sponsor change for reasons they choose as valid that the most progress is made.

I’m not clear yet whether the women in these communities had an existing base of influence around their daily lives, when Tostan launched their first initiatives. Anne