Molly Melching

(202) 299-1156

P.O. Box 53323
Washington, DC 20009-3323

Tostan's mission is to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights.

Through the Community Empowerment Program (CEP)— a 30-month, non-formal education program— thousands of communities have collectively abandoned harmful traditional practices, such as female genital cutting (FGC) and child/forced marriage, all while promoting positive traditions.

Tostan’s CEP is currently implemented in eight countries in West and East Africa. The CEP is a holistic program that includes representation from all members of the community —including traditionally marginalized populations—and provides a forum in which participants can discuss how everyone’s fundamental rights can be respected.

Through song, theater, and poetry, participants discover and debate in their own language themes including human rights, democracy, problem solving, hygiene, and health, all while learning the practical skills of literacy, SMS text messaging and project management. Through a process called organized diffusion, participants and CEP classes reach out to the community, neighboring villages, and others in their intra-marrying network to share the information discussed in the CEP. Through this process, individual and communities can lead movements for social change while respecting traditional social networks. Additionally, Community Management Committees (CMCs) trained in each partner community lead community development initiatives throughout the program and sustain projects after the CEP has ended.

Tostan is currently implementing the Jokko Initiative, a pilot program that empowers communities through mobile technology. The initiative consists of a mobile technology component of Tostan’s CEP that provides participants with practical operational skills for using a mobile phone. At the same time, participants put into practice the literacy and numeracy skills that are introduced during the CEP to send and receive SMS text messages.

Tostan’s model for transformative social change was awarded the 2005 Anna Lindh Human Rights Award (Sweden), the 2007 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the 2007 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, and the 2010 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship.

To learn more about the CEP, click here: http://www.tostan.org/web/page/552/sectionid/547/parentid/547/pagelevel/2/interior.asp

Click here for information about FGC and child/forced marriage: http://www.tostan.org/web/page/614/sectionid/548/parentid/548/pagelevel/2/interior.asp

Click here to learn about other community successes of the Tostan model: http://www.tostan.org/web/page/585/sectionid/547/parentid/547/pagelevel/2/interior.asp

Click here to learn more about the Jokko Initiative: http://tostan.org/web/page/824/sectionid/547/parentid/547/pagelevel/2/interior.asp

Tostan offers a variety of ways to get involved.
The Africa Volunteer Program presents a great opportunity to be a part of the Tostan program for community empowerment. Volunteer positions require a minimum commitment of six months but some volunteers stay for a year or longer. Currently, volunteers are placed in Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, Guinea Conakry, and Guinea Bissau.

Volunteer applications are accepted throughout the year for three start dates in January, June, and September. Please visit the Professional Opportunities page on Tostan.org for current openings.

Click here for information about the Africa Volunteer Program: http://www.tostan.org/web/page/661/sectionid/549/parentid/565/pagelevel/3/interior.asp

Click here for professional opportunities: http://www.tostan.org/web/module/volunteer/sectionid/549/interior.asp)

Tostan’s International office in Washington, DC offers an Internship Program to which current students, recent graduates, and career professionals are encouraged to apply.
DC interns take on extensive responsibilities in the areas of fundraising, communications, grant writing, and operations. Through this program, interns get an inside look at the workings of an expanding international NGO.

Applications for the Internship Program are accepted on a rolling basis for start dates in January, June, and September. Please visit the Professional Opportunities page on Tostan.org for current openings.

Click here for more information about the internship program: http://www.tostan.org/web/page/662/sectionid/549/parentid/565/pagelevel/3/interior.asp

Click here for professional opportunities: http://www.tostan.org/web/module/volunteer/sectionid/549/interior.asp

Both Tostan’s Africa Volunteer program and DC Internship program welcome applications from current students who are at least 18 years old. College students, recent grads, graduate students, and career professionals are all welcome to apply! Some former volunteers and interns have chosen to work with Tostan in lieu of a traditional study abroad experience. The DC Internship Program requires a minimum commitment of 10 weeks and is perfect for a winter, spring, or summer internship.

Africa Volunteer Program:
http://www.tostan.org/web/page/661/sectionid/549/parentid/565/pagelevel/3/interior.asp

DC Internship Program:
http://www.tostan.org/web/page/662/sectionid/549/parentid/565/pagelevel/3/interior.asp

Tostan’s career opportunities—either in Dakar, Senegal or Washington, DC—are posted when available on the Employment Opportunities page. Both the Africa Volunteer Program and the DC Internship Program also offer special placement for career professionals looking to volunteer their expertise to the needs of a growing NGO. Professional placements are flexible and tailored to the needs of the applicant, and may also be arranged remotely. Tostan is always looking for those willing to share their knowledge in the following areas: translation, journalism, IT, graphic design, writing/editing, and communications, but everyone is encouraged to apply. Please email professionalvolunteers@tostan.org for more information.

SEE FEATURE ARTICLE HERE: http://actionnownetwork.com/home/contents/?p=4952