What I love most about working with Global Fund for Children is the invaluable opportunity to learn and grow alongside our local partner organizations. During the month of August, we took significant strides in expanding our knowledge of Tostan’s community empowerment program, deepening our understanding of why it's essential to rethink how we engage with communities to create sustainable change.
One of the most important insights is the need to shift away from imposing external solutions and instead focus on fostering community-led approaches. When communities take ownership of their development, the outcomes are more meaningful and enduring. Our role is to support, facilitate, and provide the resources necessary for these discussions, but the direction must come from within.
We also learned that social norms—particularly those that have been ingrained for generations such as female genital cutting—cannot be dismantled quickly or by a select few. Social practices are embedded in the fabric of everyday life, upheld by traditions, cultural beliefs, and community structures. Therefore, change must be seen as a collective and gradual journey rather than a one-time event. Lasting transformation requires patience, consistent engagement, and open dialogue, where all community members including women, men, children and youth with intersecting identities are empowered to participate. This allows for a reflective process where communities assess their own needs and determine the best course of action, leading to deeper and more sustainable shifts in behavior and attitudes.
GFC is incredibly grateful to Tostan for sharing its holistic, community-led model, which emphasizes human dignity, social cohesion, and the power of grassroots participation. Tostan’s approach serves as a powerful reminder that true empowerment comes from within the community, and sustainable change is achieved when individuals feel respected, heard, and involved in shaping their own futures.
#Tostan #communityleddevelopment