Molly Melching is the Founder and former CEO of the NGO, Tostan. She has lived and worked in Senegal since 1974 and has received international recognition for her groundbreaking educational programs in national African languages. Molly's early experiences in rural Senegal reinforced her beliefs that many development efforts were not addressing the needs and priorities of African communities. In collaboration with Senegalese villagers, Molly developed a 3-year, African-inspired education program that has actively engaged thousands of rural adults and youth who had never attended formal school. Tostan’s innovative methodology and human rights-based model has led over 3,000 communities in 8 African countries to achieve significant progress in the areas of health, education, governance, the environment, and financial empowerment. To date, over 10,000 Tostan partner communities have abandoned the practices of female genital cutting, child marriage following the program.
Early Childhood to Primary EducationEconomic OpportunityEducationHealthHuman RightsLivelihoodsPeacePeace and Human RightsSanitationWomen's and Girls' Education
West and Central Africa
