Molly Melching & the Women of Senegal

Nominated by: Amie Ritchie, a former Tostan volunteer

Thanks to all who posted their questions and comments for Molly and the women of Senegal. In a telling online dialogue, Molly discusses Tostan's uniquely successful approach to development and how it relates to traditions, values, human rights, and human nature.

Molly Melching and the women of Malicounda Bambara at the 10-year anniversary celebration in August 2007. © Tostan

In August 2007, women's and human rights advocates worldwide celebrated a remarkable 10-year anniversary. A decade earlier, the village of Malicounda Bambara became the first Senegalese community to abandon the practice of Female Genital Cutting (FGC), a centuries-old tradition that marks the passage of a girl into adulthood, but also causes immense suffering -- and sometimes even death -- for the young girls on whom it is imposed.

Since 1997, 2,336 villages in Senegal, 298 in Guinea, and 23 in Burkina Faso, as well as villages from Sudan and Mali have joined the women of Malicounda Bambara in abandoning the practice. But 3 million girls -- most under the age of 15 -- still undergo the practice each year.

Nearly half of all Senegalese villages known to practice the custom have given it up in the past 10 years. And 2007 saw new progress towards ending FGC in Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Egypt, and Eritrea.

Molly Melching and her grassroots organization, Tostan, played a large role in inspiring and empowering many of these women and men to come to terms with such a socially and culturally challenging issue.

Melching founded Tostan, which means "breakthrough" or "spread of knowledge" in Wolof, to "[help] African communities...take charge of their own development through literacy and management skills."

A "tipping point" may be nearing
on FGC, Molly explains in this
video from West Africa.

Tostan approaches the issue of FGC in an absolutely non-judgmental manner, educating willing villagers about topics such as the universal human rights to health and freedom from all forms of violence, and then allowing communities to make their own, informed decisions.

Namely, "In sessions on health, they learn about the potential immediate and long-term harmful consequences of the practice and discuss ways to prevent these health problems in the future."

Tostan also dispatches volunteers and encourages educated villagers to travel locally and spread their knowledge, a method that gives whole regions the opportunity to deliberate on whether they would like to abandon the practice of FGC.

Rooted in the belief that initiating social change requires a strong understanding of local culture [pdf], Melching's organization teaches "democracy, human rights, problem-solving, hygiene, health, literacy, and management skills in an empowering, non-directive way, using positive African traditions such as theater, stories, proverbs, poetry, song, dialogue, and consensus building."

"Molly has empowered Malicounda Bambara and thousands of other communities in West Africa to stand up for themselves and for their communities."
- Amie Ritchie, who nominated Melching

The educational process concludes with the village making a public declaration to end FGC, which Melching describes as a "happy and joyful event."

"Molly Melching has lived and worked in Senegal for over 33 years and has dedicated her life to education and development in Africa," says Amie Ritchie, who is a former Tostan volunteer and nominated Melching and the women of Senegal for the Person of 2007 award. "Through her work, Molly has empowered Malicounda Bambara and thousands of other communities in West Africa to stand up for themselves and for their communities."

Tostan has been widely recognized this past year and was awarded two international prizes in 2007, one for its pioneering work in literacy and one for its ability to relieve human suffering, Ritchie notes. "However, both Molly Melching, a woman who defers any and all recognition to the populations she serves, and the women of Malicounda Bambara have yet to be singled out for their amazing achievements."

Click here for the latest OneWorld articles on FGC, or stay up to date with the latest on women's issues worldwide from OneWorld's "Gender Matters" edition of Perspectives online magazine. You can subscribe to our RSS feed on gender there, too.

Discover Tostan's approach to community-led development in the Gambia:

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THE OTHER FINALISTS...

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz & the world's indigenous rights campaigners

Betty Makoni

Rajendra Pachauri & the scientific community and governments contributing to the IPCC

Justine Masika Bihamba & Eve Ensler

Burma's Monks

Molly Melching & the women of Senegal and West Africa

Vandana Shiva

$100 Laptop Designers

User comments

"My films about Tostan's work in Senegal"

Author: Kenny Mann

Time: 12.05.2010 23:38

Comment: I have spent four years making a collection of three films about Tostan's work in Senegal. They are briefly described below. You can see a trailer and learn more about me and my work at www.rafikiproductions.com/films.php .

WALKING WITH LIFE
By Kenny Mann

PO Box 2789
Sag Harbor, NY 11963

WALKING WITH LIFE is the umbrella title for three related films, available as a collection on one DVD or as individual films.

WALKING WITH LIFE –
The Birth of a Human Rights Movement in Africa – 39mns

Punctuated by the songs of a griot or oral historian, this film – shot entirely on location in Senegal - pulses to the dramatic beat of traditional theatre, music and dance. These tools are used by Tostan, an award-winning NGO, to
help people discover their human rights and the meaning of democracy. Their new learning inspires participants to re-examine ancient customs, such as female genital cutting and forced early marriage. Health and hygiene, community resources, environmental issues and girls’ education are all scrutinized through the lens of human rights.

As positive social changes sweep the country, the people of Senegal rejoice in triumph. Whisked from the placid villages of the Casamance to the harsh desert of the Fouta and the teeming streets of Dakar, viewers become eye-witnesses to the empowerment of people through human rights education.

TOSTAN: Building Partnerships Through
Human Rights Education 32:13mns

This companion film illuminates Tostan’s profound philosophy after more than thirty years of field experience in several African countries, as illustrated by the program in Senegal and Guinea. Consultation with civic, political and religious leaders and respect for traditional culture are at the root of Tostan’s success as a model for human rights education.

HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES: Paths To Peace – 16:00mns

Twenty-one cities around the world, including Rosario, Argentina; Graz, Austria; and Korogocho, Kenya, have made a commitment to run all social, political, economic and cultural aspects of city life according to human rights. The film documents the process in Thies, Senegal, and in Washington, D.C.

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