Franco Robles

10/5/15
ISS 1120

Midterm Essay (Topic #1)

TostansapproachtothesituationinSenegalisamajoradvancementtorural
communitiesthathaveheldontooutdatedtraditions,whicharenotbeneficialtothe
advancementofthecommunity.Tostanuseseducationalprogramsthatprovideinformationto
thelocalsandcommunityleaders.MollyMelching,thefounderofTostansaysthather
organizationbeganasagroupthatprovidedhealthinformationthatwaslackingincommunities
aroundAfrica.Now,alongwithprovidinginformationtolocalcommunities,Tostanistryingto
endfemalegenitalmutilation.

Accordingtotheworldhealthorganization3milliongirlsinAfricaaresubjectedto
genitalmutilationandover140millionwomentodayarelivingwithitsconsequences.The
originsoffemalegenitalmutilationhasbeenaroundforcenturies,Rulersusedtoperformthe
circumcisiontocontrolwomensfidelityanditwasalsoasignofgoodmarriagebetween
families.TostangoestoreligiousImamsorworshipleadersoflocalcommunitiesanduses
informationtofightculturalnorms.TheyspeaktotheImamstocometoagreementthatthe
ritualsarenotareligiousobligation.Respectisthekeyaspecttoworkingwiththese
communitiestoshowthattheirwellbeingandhealthisimportant.Tostansapproachtothe
situationistheidealwayofmakingachange.GerryMackiefromtheUniversityofCalifornia
saysthattheirapproachistherightwaytomakechange,ratherthanforcingthecommunityor

paying,andtrickingthemintodoingit.WhatseparatesTostanfromotheraidgroupsisthatthey
gettogetherandhelpcommunitiesunderstandtheconsequencesoftheritual.MollyMelching,
founderofTostanreportedthatover4,792communitiesinSenegalhaveabandonedfemale
genitalmutilation.Alongwithfightingtoendfemalecircumcision,anumberofcommunities
havecommittedtochangeothertraditionssuchasallowingothermentomarryyounggirls.

Thisarticlewasreleasedin2013,ontheirwebsitethecurrentstatisticsshowthatthey
havereachedover7,000communitiesacrossAfrica,whichisanincreaseofover2000intwo
years.TostancontinuestonotjusthelpSenegalbuthasexpandedtheirhorizonstootherAfrican
nationsacrossthecountry.

Bibliography
"Health."
TostanCommunitySuccess
.PBSNewsHour,Fall2015.Web.08Oct.2015.