Tostan Celebrates a Collective Fifty Years of Hard Work by Valued Tostan Retirees

Story by Alisa Hamilton, Tostan Communications Assistant, Dakar, Senegal

Earlier this year, Tostan celebrated its first retirement ceremony in Thiès, Senegal at the Training Center for Sustainable Development (Centre de Capacitation pour le Developpement Durable, CCDD). Four retirees received certificates and gifts from jovial and grateful members of the Tostan family.

The retirees represented two major regions of Senegal and included Abdoulaye Kandé, Regional Coordinator of Kolda from 1991 to 2011, Babacar Faye, Assistant at Tostan Thiès from 2003 to 2011, Alexadre Mané, Logistics Department Assistant at Tostan Thiès from 2001 to 2011, and Kaw Idy Sow, Security Guard at Tostan Thiès from 1995 to 2011. Djiby Sow, a driver for Tostan Thiès who retired in 2005, also received a certificate and gifts.

Influential Tostan Social Mobilization Agents Imam Demba Diawara of Keur Simbara, Ouréye Sall of N'gerigne Bambara and Doussou Konaté of Same N'diaye gave speeches on the important work of Tostan staff members. At the end of the ceremony, the attendees gathered for a group photograph and partook in delicious pastries and local juices provided by the CCDD. The celebration, one of many to come, was a great success.

View the pictures from the celebration below:
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In Thiès, Senegal, Tostan team members gathered for a special ceremony held in honor of several individuals who recently retired after years of service with Tostan.

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Kaaw Idy Sow, former guard at the Tostan office in Thiès, receives his certificate with a smile. Mr. Sow, 65, has worked at Tostan since 1991. He explained that Tostan was not a job to him but a family, and the office felt like his home. He thanked God for having been able to work until the age of 65 without any mistakes on the job. When asked what he would do with his newly acquired free time, Mr. Sow explained that he would continue to come to the office to visit his friends.  

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Babacar Faye (center, holding certificate), former Tostan Assistant, accepts his gifts and poses with Tostan Thiès team members. 

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Djiby Sow, a retiree and former driver for Tostan Thiès, gives a speech after receiving an honorary certificate.

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All participants of the retirement ceremony gather for a Tostan family photo outside the CCDD.