An Evening with Tostan

Story by Kate Acosta, Tostan Intern, Washington, D.C.

On Thursday July 22, Tostan’s Washington, D.C. office held its first ever event.  Tostan alumni, donors, partners and friends all gathered at the local restaurant Busboys and Poets for a screening of “Walking the Path of Unity,” a  movie that discusses the decision of several Senegalese communities to abandon female genital cutting (FGC) after participating in Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP).  Local Tostan alumni and supporters attended the event, and received an update on recent Tostan programs and successes from Molly Melching, Tostan’s Executive Director and founder. 

This event marks the first of its kind for Tostan’s Washington, D.C. office, and we were very pleased with its success.  Attendees had many interesting questions, and the evening was filled with thought-provoking discussions.  We look forward to future events that will bring the Tostan community together again!

Photos by Tostan International: Top- Molly Melching addresses the crowd at Busboys and Poets. Bottom- US Director of Operations, Gannon Gillespie, talks with former Tostan volunteers.